Managing Director of State Trading Organisation (STO) Hussain Amr has said that 30 farmers are working with the agricentre. STO opened agricentre last year to provide fair prices to farmers.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director Amr said that the price of importing agricultural commodities is increasing. He said the Maldives needs to increase food security, which was most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, he said one of the most important purposes of opening the agricentre was to reduce imports of agricultural commodities and expand food security. He said the agricentre will buy the produce of farmers at good prices every year. He added that STO has provided farmers with a way to expand their farming as a business.
In conclusion, Amr said 30 farmers are currently working with the agricentre. He said that the centre is currently buying more than 17 products from farmers and selling the produce from the farmers wholesale to businesses. He added that it will enable farmers to farm sustainably and get the benefits they deserve.