Honored Guest of the ceremony, Minister of Cities, Administrative Divisions, and Public Works, Adam Shareef; Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, Ibrahim Waheed; Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim; Ambassadors; Senior officials from various government institutions; staff of the Ministry; and all distinguished guests present at this ceremony,

Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu.

I sincerely thank our honored guest, Minister Adam Shareef, for attending this event. Your participation in such an important activity, despite your busy schedule, is clear evidence of the special attention and priority you give to this sector.

The Fehi Dhirun Expo is a special event held this year to mark Maldives Farmers' Day, World Food Day, and World Animal Day.

The main objective of this expo is to provide a platform for stakeholders in the areas of agriculture, food, and animal welfare to showcase their work to the public. Furthermore, it aims to facilitate the enhancement of community awareness regarding food safety and sufficiency, and animal welfare.

This year's theme for World Food Day is: For a Fulfilled Life and a Bright Future: The Fundamental Right to Food Access.

This theme embodies a crucial concept of urban development and human rights: that access to safe and nutritious food is a basic human right for every individual. Moreover, this theme highlights the importance of food in paving the way for a self-sufficient life and a prosperous future. Therefore, this theme clearly emphasizes that providing safe and affordable food to every member of society is a matter that must be prioritized at both national and international levels.

The agricultural industry is a rapidly advancing sector that plays a very important role in the national economy. According to the latest statistics, over 7,000 farmers are working in the Maldives. A notable aspect of this sector is that over 50% of the individuals involved in this industry in the Maldives are hardworking women. This is a matter I note with pleasure, as it facilitates the economic empowerment of women. This Ministry is undertaking numerous efforts to advance the agricultural sector.

These efforts include finding investors for farming islands, conducting projects aimed at developing farming in the islands, and preparing a mobile application using modern methods to collect agricultural statistics.

The visionary guidance of His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is to allocate special land for agriculture on every island and work towards achieving self-sufficiency in food production. The government is providing full cooperation and support for this important work.

Among the Ministry's activities, special emphasis is given to cultivating the healthy Moringa tree (Muraṅga gas) and increasing its production, and programs are being conducted to raise awareness in this regard. Furthermore, priority is given to encouraging and promoting the cultivation of bananas and providing the necessary technical assistance. Similarly, special projects are underway to revive and increase the population of the Maldivian coconut palm (Dhivehi Ruku), which is an important part of the Maldivian cultural and economic heritage.

Prioritizing the environment and human well-being in agricultural practices in the Maldives is of fundamental importance. Thus, ensuring the safety and quality of food produced is the main pillar for guaranteeing food security. The Maldives Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification system is a national standard that ensures the safety, quality, and sustainable production of agricultural produce. This system will increase confidence in the Maldivian agricultural sector and enhance food safety in the Maldives.

In addition, the testing phase for the beta version of the 'Dhanduveriyaa' (Farmer) mobile application, specifically designed to provide important agricultural information, is currently underway. Upon completion of this phase, the 'Dhanduveriyaa' application will be publicly opened for use by all farmers in the Maldives within this year.

Before concluding my speech, I would like to offer special thanks to the dedicated staff of the Ministry for their efforts towards the success of this expo. Furthermore, I respectfully thank all parties who participated in the stalls of this event. I note that the success of this expo is a vibrant testament to your skill and enthusiasm. I appreciate the valuable services provided by all parties working in the fields of agriculture, food production, and animal welfare, and I honor this work with high regard.

I hope that this expo will enable all participants to gain important information and establish beneficial connections. I pray to Almighty Allah for further progress and prosperity in your work, and I conclude my remarks by praying that He blesses your efforts and grants you the ability to provide numerous beneficial services to the nation.

Wassalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu.