Agro National Corporation (AgroNat) has revealed that it is currently working on building boats to easily transport fruits and vegetables produced by farmers.
AgroNat announced a tender for the building of two 65-foot fiberglass vessels. The company previously said the boats will be operational by the end of the year.
AgroNat is working with many farmers in different parts of the country. The company said that one of the biggest challenges it faces is the lack of delivery of freshly made produce. Therefore, it is expected the newly built boats will facilitate the delivery of produce by farmers to the islands and resorts with ease.
Additionally, AgroNat said that agricultural products are highly perishable and should be properly stored. However, the lack of such storage facilities on vessels commonly used in the Maldives is an issue. Therefore, the company expressed the intention to design the ships to last longer and provide services to farmers.
AgroNat has sent teams to 68 islands in the Maldives to provide information on the company's contract farming project. More than 2,000 farmers have already registered so far.
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.