The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has intensified efforts to modernise the local farming sector, successfully training 478 farmers from 28 islands over the past two years.
The rigorous nationwide initiative focuses on providing farmers with essential scientific knowledge and practical technical experience to ensure the sustainability and profitability of local agriculture.
Ministry officials have been actively touring the country, conducting various programmes centered on adapting advanced farming methods to the island environment. Key areas of instruction include cutting-edge techniques such as hydroponics training and greenhouse farming, equipping farmers to maximise yields and manage environmental challenges.
Beyond basic crop cultivation, the Ministry is now placing a major emphasis on post-harvest training, encouraging farmers to shift from selling raw produce to strategic value addition. Farmers are being provided technical information on how to process their harvests into marketable goods, including preparing and selling juices, jams, dried fruits, vegetables, and other processed food items.
The Ministry stated that this crucial strategic pivot is designed to address two major financial constraints faced by local farmers. By transforming basic fruits and vegetables into processed products, the initiative is expected to significantly lengthen the shelf life of the goods, simultaneously increasing the overall financial returns and market stability for the farming community.