With food security and safety as this year's main focus, several events were held in the Maldives to change people's perceptions of farming and the agriculture industry in general.
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With the ongoing global food crisis, this year's world food day and national farmers day was celebrated around the importance of food security and safety. World food day which was celebrated with the slogan ‘leave no one behind’ was celebrated on 16th October 2022, just one day after the national farmers day in the Maldives, which is celebrated to highlight the hardship faced by the farming sector and the importance of buying local in order to support the development of the agriculture industry.
With food security and safety as this year's main focus, several events were held in the Maldives to change people's perceptions of farming and the agriculture industry in general. To commemorate Farmer's Day, several organisations collaborated with the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Agriculture to hold workshop sessions that provided important information to farmers about sustainable farming methods, as well as loans and benefits available to farmers.
In addition to these sessions, an agriculture expo was held in Kaashidhoo (Kaafu Atoll), providing a venue for the locals working in the agriculture industry to showcase their products and services. Several individuals and organisations participated in this expo, displaying goods ranging from locally produced snacks to fresh fruits and vegetables and the various tools and resources available to farmers in the Maldives.
Following the commencement of the expo that went on for three days, Kaafu Atoll School in collaboration with AgroNAT also hosted a school garden inauguration session where students planted dragon fruit on school grounds. The aim of the program was to introduce the younger generation to farming as well as make them understand the importance of producing crops locally in order to ensure food safety in the Maldives.
Introduction of community farming to the Maldives
One of the most notable aspects of these festivities was the introduction of community farming to the Maldives. AgroNAT's introduced concept aims to develop technologically driven farming concepts in islands with large farmlands, such as Kaashidhoo.
In order to introduce sustainability to the Maldivian agriculture industry, technological farming mechanisms such as vertical farming and irrigation systems, as well as solar-powered energy systems, will be used. According to AgroNAT, the implementation of this concept will allow farmers to work full-time jobs while also running a farm.
This method will not only teach the agriculture industry how to embrace sustainability, but it will also allow for the development of the agriculture industry.
While the Maldivian agriculture industry still has a long way to go in terms of development, the concepts introduced in commemoration of this year's farmers and World Food Day will go a long way toward assisting with development if implemented correctly.
