Training Programme Launched To Develop Lead Farmers In Greenhouse Islands

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has initiated a programme to train and identify lead farmers in islands where greenhouses are being developed.

The project is part of the Maldives Agribusiness Programme (MAP), jointly implemented by the Ministry and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). MAP covers 26 islands across Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, and Shaviyani Atolls.

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Training will take place in two rounds, involving a total of 28 participants, including 18 farmers and Ministry field staff. The first round is scheduled from 10 to 17 August, followed by the second round from 25 to 30 August at the Hanimaadhoo Agricultural Centre.

The programme aims to equip lead farmers with the skills needed to promote best agricultural practices and ensure the effective use of greenhouses built under the initiative. Key responsibilities include maintaining the crop calendar, regularly monitoring checklists, supporting field and greenhouse management, and identifying areas for improvement in collaboration with the Ministry’s extension staff.

The government has so far developed greenhouses in a dozen islands in the north of the country, as part of a broader push to promote climate-resilient farming in the Maldives.