State Trading Organisation (STO) has opened an agricentre in Thoddoo, Alifu Alifu Atoll.
The Thoddoo Agricentre was officially opened during a ceremony held on October 14. The agricentre was officially opened by President of Thoddoo Island Council Ahmed Karam. This is the first agricentre opened by STO outside Male’.
STO stated an agricentre was opened in Thoddoo to allow farmers in the region to market and sell their produce conveniently. Noting Thoddoo is the most prominent farming island in the region, STO said farmers in Thoddoo can now sell their produce directly to the agricentre established in the island.
STO first established an agricentre in Male’ last April, with the aim of providing Maldivian farmers the full benefit from the sale of their products, and to reduce agricultural imports and supply resorts with local products. The centre is currently supplying products to about 50 businesses.
The STO Agricentre currently purchases 16 different types of items from farmers, including watermelon, capsicum, tomato, sweet potato, cucumber, melon, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, brinjal, pumpkin and chilli. The centre said it will continue to add more products to the list.