Government is planning to carry out a pilot project in Laamu Atoll under the Agricultural Economic Zone initiative, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Dr Mariyam Mariya has said.
Expanding the agricultural sector and reducing reliance on imported agricultural products are among the top priorities of the current administration. To achieve this objective, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has designated a specific area—the agricultural economic zone—for the cultivation of various crops to enhance food security.
The State Trading Organization (STO) has announced that the agricultural economic zone project to ensure food security in the Maldives, initially planned for Uthuru Thila Falhu, has now been relocated to Fushidhiggaru.
The Maldives Industrial Development Freezone Company signed an agreement with China’s Harbour Engineering Company Limited early 2024 to establish an agricultural economic zone aimed at ensuring food security for the import dependent island nation. The project will involve dredging 100 hectares of land to create this zone, with plans for it to begin in early 2026.
Responding to questions over the initiative in Parliament on Wednesday, Minister Dr Mariya said the government needs time for land reclamation to fully implement the project.
However, efforts around the initiative are underway, according to the Minister, adding that a pilot project of the agricultural economic zone will be carried out in Laamu Atoll.
"We have already identified the land in Laamu Atoll and by the end of this month we will discuss and decide on the kind of crops we want to cultivate. We are hoping to get the project started by next month," she explained.
The agricultural economic zone planned for Fushidhiggaru will include greenhouses for growing vegetables and fruits, as well as a training centre and accommodation blocks. In its second phase, the project will feature a specialised poultry farm to produce chicken eggs for the Maldives. The decision to dredge land was made due to the need for a large area, which is seen as the most efficient way to implement the project.