Sunday
18th Oct 2026
Dhivehi Edition
Photo: Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ministry
Ensuring food security is one of the government’s highest priorities and is directly linked to national security, Fisheries and Ocean Resources Minister Ahmed Shiyam has said.
Speaking at an official ceremony in Meedhoo, Addu City, marking World Food Day and National Farmers’ Day, Shiyam stressed the need to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on imported food.
According to the minister, more than 90 percent of the food consumed in the Maldives is imported, including approximately USD 60 million worth of fruit and vegetables annually.
He cited watermelon imports worth MVR 73 million and said imports of cabbage and lettuce alone totalled MVR 105 million last year.
Shiyam said the government’s policy was to substantially reduce imports of produce that could be grown locally. Achieving this would require comprehensive support for Maldivian farmers, he added.
The minister acknowledged that the Maldives’ geography as a low-lying island nation presented significant challenges to agriculture. He said coordinated efforts across the sector were needed to generate the desired returns.
Shiyam emphasised that food security extended beyond economic considerations, describing it as essential to the country’s safety and security. Agriculture, fisheries and mariculture all had a role in achieving that objective, he said, calling for every necessary measure to secure the national food supply.
Efforts outlined in the account include training farmers in technology-assisted cultivation, providing financial support and establishing a stronger system to help producers bring their goods to market.