Agro National Corporation Limited (AgroNat) has contracted Fix In Marine Private Limited to build two boats to be used to easily transport fruits and vegetables produced by farmers.
Under the agreement, Fix In Marine has been contracted to build a 65-foot boat and a 45-foot boat. The project is funded by the government of Japan and the Project for Developing Sustainable Agricultural Economy (PDSAE) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will provide technical assistance to build the boats. The design of the boats was made by the Marine Police Department of the Maldives Police Services (MPS). The efforts have been supported by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture.
AgroNat stated that the boats will be operated with the assistance of the Marine Police in training and maintaining the safety of the crew. AgroNat stated that the boats are the beginning of its efforts to introduce an efficient and sustainable transportation system that connects farmers and consumers. The project also aims to establish a sustainable, efficient and reliable, and timely transportation system for agricultural products
The boats are designed to modern standards, consisting of refrigeration systems to store the produce by farmers. The boats will have cargo compartments and storage areas. The cargo compartments are designed to be air-conditioned and temperature controlled. In addition, the crew will be provided with accommodation and meals. The boats are also designed with a solar power system on the deck which will be used to power the refrigeration systems to keep the produce cool. Therefore, the cost of electricity will also be reduced on the vessels.
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 helps them to market their produce.