The State Trading Organisation (STO) has officially commenced the sale of 23 newly designated essential food items Wednesday, fulfilling a key government promise aimed at ensuring affordable, sustainable, and stable availability across the Maldives.
The products are currently available at the STO People’s Choice Supermarket in the capital Male’.
The strategic decision to classify these varieties as essential was announced on 14 September, with the government delivering on its commitment to launch the products within the promised timeframe of one month. The selection criteria focused on items identified as the most imported and highly consumed in Maldivian households, while also considering their inherent health and nutritional benefits.
The initiative directly addresses the longstanding problem of sharp price volatility, which often saw the cost of common goods spiking dramatically. STO has assured the public that the prices of these essential items will be fixed based on current market rates and will not be subject to future increases, maintaining affordability for consumers.
The newly regulated list includes a wide array of fruits, vegetables, and staples. Among the fruits offered at stable prices are bananas (USD 1.95), apples (USD 2.59), oranges (USD 2.27), watermelon (USD 0.97), mango (USD 9.73) per kilgogram. Key vegetables and staples, such as cucumbers (USD 4.22) and yellow lentils (USD 2.72), potatoes (USD 0.97) are also part of the list designed to reduce household expenditure.
While the goods are currently sold on a retail basis at People’s Choice, STO confirmed that plans are rapidly developing for wholesale distribution and streamlined arrangements to ensure easy access for all communities across the Atolls.
Crucially, STO emphasised its commitment to supporting local production by expressing readiness to purchase essential items directly from Maldivian traders. The organisation currently sources popular varieties such as passion fruit and dragon fruit from a farming island in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, demonstrating a push for domestic integration within the essential goods supply chain.
STO concluded by assuring the continuity of supply, committing to maintaining these products in the market sustainably to prevent any shortages.