The equipment required for the establishment of a Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory and Training Centre in Fuvahmulah City has been officially handed over to Fuvahmulah City Council.
The handover ceremony held Wednesday was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Dr Maryam Mariya, Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives Ishigami Rumiko, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative Pek Chuan Gan, and Mayor of Fuvahmulah City Council Ismail Rafeea along with council staff.
The facility is being established as part of a collaborative project between the government of Maldives, the government of Japan and the UNDP. In addition to conducting agriculture-related training, the centre will also provide facilities for modern and sustainable agriculture once operational.
This project is one of the most significant efforts being made by the government to develop the agricultural sector. The establishment of the national laboratory will mark a major milestone in the government’s broader efforts to enhance the agricultural sector, and ensure the safe use of agricultural products.
Under the laboratory project, the quality of agricultural products and the standards of chemicals used for its cultivation will be assessed. This will increase the safety of vegetables and fruits produced locally and facilitate the production of healthier foods, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare said. The aim of this government is to promote sustainable local agriculture and strengthen national food security.