In August, the number of individuals seeking financial assistance for food items rose due to prevailing poverty.
The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) on Saturday released data indicating that 700 people received a total of MVR 25,720 for food purchases last month.
In comparison, 697 people were provided with this assistance in June and July of the previous year, with a total disbursement of MVR 25,600.
Individuals experiencing poverty are extended financial assistance for food purchases under the Social Security Act. This aid facilitates the acquisition of staple food commodities such as flour, sugar, and rice.
The program offers financial assistance of MVR 40 per person per month, with a maximum of MVR 240 per household.
ފަޤީރު ހާލަތުގައި ދިރިއުޅޭ ފަރާތްތަކުން ކާބޯތަކެތި ގަތުމަށް ދެވޭ މާލީ އެހީއޮގަސްޓް 2025 pic.twitter.com/JRznuJ8f9J
— NSPA (@NSPAmaldives) September 20, 2025
The eligibility criteria for this aid are:
Maldivian citizenship
An income below the threshold specified in the regulations prescribed by NSPA for the determination of poverty status.
NSPA disclosed these figures amidst rising food prices in the Maldives.
Focusing solely on Male’ city, prices of essential commodities increased last month, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The data reveals that from July to August this year, prices of essential commodities escalated by 1.19 percent. Compared to the same month last year, prices were up by 1.92 percent in August.
Food prices increased by 1.62 percent from July to August. The disparity widened compared to August last year, with prices rising by two percent.
According to the statistics, fruit prices experienced the most significant surge. The month-on-month increase was 6.13 percent, reflecting a 10.2 percent rise from the previous year.
A worker carrying cases of eggs in Male' market area: Business profit tax declines by MVR 760 million as businesses experience low. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)
To mitigate food price inflation, the government has been importing food items through the state-owned State Trading Organization (STO). Following a recent surge in orange prices, oranges were imported, leading to a reduction in their price from MVR 10 to MVR 5.
Furthermore, the government has assigned 23 items, including vegetables and fruits, to STO this month.
With this initiative, food prices are projected to decrease by 15 percent next month, as stated by Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed.
While the government asserts that bulk food imports via STO aim to bolster food security, the opposition contends that this measure does not guarantee it. Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer and former STO Managing Director Hussain Amr have also emphasized the importance of promoting agriculture in the Maldives to achieve genuine food security.