Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare Dr. Aishath Rameela has emphasised that the government of the Maldives is exerting maximum efforts to promote sustainable agriculture practices. She made these remarks during her address at the High-Level Policy Forum, organised by the SAARC Agriculture Centre, with an aim of promoting climate-smart agriculture.
In her speech, Dr. Rameela highlighted the government's ongoing initiatives to foster sustainability in agriculture. The minister stressed the importance of hosting global forums like this one, to ensure food security and economic opportunities across the region, while also advancing the agriculture sector towards greater sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change.
Acknowledging the large population in South Asia, Minister Dr. Rameela pointed out that the region is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. She reaffirmed that the Maldives is committed to strengthening the agriculture sector to ensure that agricultural practices remain sustainable, regardless of climate-related challenges.
Furthermore, Minister Dr. Rameela underscored the critical role of the Food Policy Research Institute in providing science-based solutions to the challenges facing agriculture. She outlined that the institute's findings are vital for informing policy decisions and supporting small island nations like the Maldives in agricultural development. During the forum, the minister launched a leaflet and video materials designed to raise awareness about key initiatives for sustainable agriculture as well.
The Consortium for Scaling-up Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia (C-SUCSeS) is a four-year collaborative initiative involving the SAARC Agriculture Centre, the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Launched in 2021, the project is being implemented across six countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The High-Level Policy Forum provides a platform to assess the progress of the project and initiate discussions on the measures required to achieve its objectives.