Reclamation work yet to commence on land designated for agricultural establishment announced by Pres. Muizzu in 2024, a project intended to produce enough food to sustain at least 200,000 citizens
17 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ހޯމަ 13:02The government previously signed an agreement with a Chinese company to reclaim 200 hectares of land in Uthuru Thila Falhu for a major agricultural project aimed at ensuring food security; however, the Ministry of Infrastructure has confirmed that physical reclamation work has yet to commence despite significant time passing since the project's announcement.
A group of people work to unload bunches of bananas brought to Male' by boat. | Alamy
The government has confirmed that reclamation work has yet to begin on the site designated for the agricultural establishment announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in 2024. The project was unveiled with the ambitious goal of producing enough food locally to sustain at least 200,000 citizens.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that an agreement has been signed with the Chinese government to establish food security and expand the agricultural sector in the Maldives. The President made these remarks while speaking to the media at Velana International Airport on January 13, 2024, following his return from a state visit to China.
The President highlighted that this project will establish an agricultural facility capable of producing all varieties of crops commonly grown in the Maldives, in quantities sufficient to meet the needs of at least 200,000 people.
Subsequently, an agreement was signed between the Maldives Industrial Development Free Zone (MIDFZ)—a subsidiary of STO—and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited to establish an Agricultural Economic Zone (AEZ) in the Maldives.
Subsequently, speaking on March 30, 2024, President Muizzu stated that the project would proceed by reclaiming 200 hectares of land at Uthuru Thila Falhu, located near Male'.
More than two years and four months after President Muizzu made these remarks, the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has informed RaajjeTV in writing that land reclamation for Uthuru Thila Falhu has yet to commence.
The government has stated that the implementation of this project will bring an end to the millions of dollars spent on importing food varieties that can be produced locally. Furthermore, while the administration previously announced the launch of a food production initiative to achieve this objective, it has now been revealed that no practical progress has been made on the ground.
