Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture has brought 5,000 coconut palms to the Maldives to address the difficulty in obtaining coconuts.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Hussain Rasheed Hassan said that the government is working to find a solution to the problem of obtaining coconut. As such, he said 5,000 coconut palms have been brought to the Maldives to create a new generation of plants. He also said the imported coconut palms will be distributed after ensuring that they are free of any disease.
Additionally, Minister Hassan urged the public to take measures to prevent the spread of a black fungus called Sooty Mold disease to the newly imported trees. He stressed the importance of identifying different diseases that affect coconut palms in the Maldives. He also said it is important to raise awareness among farmers as well as those who import coconut palms for commercial purposes.
Furthermore, Minister Hassan expressed hope that the meeting would provide the necessary information to work at the national level to eradicate such diseases. He expressed concern that if diseases affecting the palm trees are not eradicated, coconuts may have to be imported permanently.
The ministry held a two-day stakeholder consultation meeting with the relevant sectors on the prevention of plant pests and disease spread in the Maldives.