Agro National Corporation Private Limited (AgroNat) has revealed that land plots will be leased for farmers within three months from one of the islands allocated for the company. Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture handed over Mulidhoo in Haa Alif Atoll and Gaadhoo in Laamu Atoll to AgroNat in May 2021.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director Haroon Rasheed said AgroNat is currently developing Gaadhoo in order to begin leasing land plots to farmers. He said that Gaadhoo is being developed to accommodate the latest agricultural technologies and that AgroNat will purchase the agricultural products grown on the island. He also said that Gaadhoo will be developed within three months and AgroNat will hire staff for the island.
AgroNat was established by the government to market agricultural produce from local farms and provide a better income for farmers. The corporation has established contracts with farmers for various different types of fruits and vegetables. AgroNat is providing technical and financial assistance to local farmers to produce these items, and helping them to market their produce.
AgroNat has so far distributed items worth over USD193,000 to farmers under the start-up package. AgroNat has visited 68 islands to provide information on its contract farming project. More than 2,000 farmers are already registered with AgroNat. There are 1,000 farmers signed up with the company, of whom more than 300 are growing crops in fields.