Maldives has held discussions with Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) in securing support for the introduction of resilient and high-nutrition crops in the island nation.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare met with the visiting team from JIRCAS to explore potential areas of interest in strengthening vegetable research and food security in the Maldives.
According to the Ministry, discussions during the meeting covered local crop varieties, desired traits for Maldivian conditions, ongoing research efforts, and future support strategies including the introduction of resilient, high-nutrition crops like Amaranth and Soybean and Tomato.
The government has launched several initiatives to promote the agricultural industry and increase the safety of agricultural produce in the Maldives.
The ongoing efforts to establish a national laboratory to address the concerns of farmers and ensure the safety of agricultural products marks a significant milestone of the government’s vision.
Under this project, the quality of agricultural products and the standards of chemicals used will be strengthened, enhancing the safety of vegetables and fruits produced in Maldives and facilitating the production of healthy food products.