President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated the obstacles to the world's food security can be tackled by expanding farming. He made the remarks while speaking at the official ceremony held in Kaashidhoo, Kaafu Atoll, to commemorate National Farmers’ Day and World Food Day 2022.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Solih said farming in Kaashidhoo is not undertaken by citizens of the island alone, adding some farmers from other islands have invested in agriculture on the island which proves farming has a great future. The president said the government had held various forums during the past four years to seek ideas and to hold discussions on how to develop agriculture in the Maldives, noting one of the biggest complaints raised by farmers was the lack of adequate land for long-term investment in agriculture. He added farmers had complained about the lack of loans allocated for farming which had been solved via the SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC) and the Agro National Corporation (AgroNat).
Furthermore, President Solih revealed another reason why the government should prioritise expanding agriculture in the Maldives is to avoid the various shocks coming into the world. He noted such crises affect the world's food security which can be tackled by expanding agriculture and producing local food. He expressed that although the world has developed tremendously and imports and exports have expanded and accelerated, no country can be sure of getting enough staples and food items. He also said the solution is to expand agriculture significantly.