Minister of Fisheries, Marine resources and Agriculture Zaha Waheed has said the quality of fish consumed by Maldivians are bad in quality, although fish exported from the country maintain international quality standards.
Speaking at a function by Maldives National Community to mark World Food Day, Minister Zaha said Maldives export quality fish worldwide while the fish locals consume is significantly bad in quality. She further stated important steps are essential to provide better quality fish for locals.
Minister Zaha also urged to grow food locally instead of depending on imports. The minister further said more than 350 farmers from more than 17 islands have been trained to try and reach the goal of reducing food import. Zaha also highlighted the challenges Maldives have in growing food locally.
The minister further announced a project to be launched next year with the assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development as part of the efforts to make Maldives a more self-sufficient nation by growing food. She added the formulation and development of the project is underway and the project is expected to take food production to the next level.
Various government offices, agencies and organisations marked World Food Day of 2019 themed Our Actions are Our Future. The first World Food Day was marked on October 16, 1945.