The government has initiated a special program aimed at increasing banana production in the Maldives and reducing import quantities. The main objective of this program is to increase banana production in the Maldives by 50% by the end of 2028.

Committees interested in participating in this project should prepare and submit a plan including the following components:

Work schedule details of the most suitable area for planting 500 banana plants: (Area size, map marking the area) plan for maintaining the banana plantation. The details of how this project will be carried out are as follows.

Ministry's responsibilities:

Providing seedlings Supplying fertilizers needed for the plantation Providing technical information Women's Development Committee's responsibilities:

Finding suitable land for planting bananas clearing the land digging holes needed for planting seedling maintaining the plantation according to the submitted plan with the expansion of the tourism industry and the increasing number of tourists visiting the Maldives, it is noted that the amount of bananas imported to the Maldives is increasing year by year. Under this program, the aim is to reduce the amount of imported bananas by 25% by the end of 2028.

Main components of the program

Under this program, it has been decided to designate specific areas for bananas in agricultural lands of inhabited islands, and to produce banana seedlings in the tissue culture laboratory at the National Laboratory Facility established in Fuvahmulah, which will be provided to farmers at a low cost.

The program also plans to conduct special training programs for farmers interested in growing bananas, and to introduce value-added methods to reduce the amount of unsold and spoiled bananas.

Role of Women's Committees

This project is set to be carried out in collaboration with Women's Development Committees (WDC). Under this project, it has been decided to plant 500 banana plants in islands across the Maldives. The Ministry will provide banana seedlings, fertilizers, and technical information.

It is noted that bananas are easily grown in Maldivian islands, have been traditionally cultivated by Maldivian farmers, and are easily marketable. This program is expected to improve the quality of locally produced bananas and increase productivity.

WDCs interested in participating in this project are requested to share their plans with this Ministry before 14:00 on Thursday, 25 September 2025. For more information, please contact the Ministry's Assistant Agriculture Officer, Fathimath Yusra (3339263)