Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) has announced that the government has decided to distribute a case of 48 cans of tuna to each household for the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan.

Providing a case of canned tuna to each household for this Ramadan is a promise made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in November 2024.

MIFCO stated that as a result, they need to produce an additional 100,000 cans of tuna for the upcoming fasting month compared to their usual production. Preparations are currently underway.

MIFCO said that this effort is being carried out in collaboration with the State Trading Organization (STO), and that the canned tuna will be ready by February. They also highlighted that once this work is wrapped up, they have decided to distribute the cases of canned tuna to households, and they are currently planning the distribution methods.

According to MIFCO, they have decided to distribute a case of 48 cans of tuna in oil to each household.

Last year during Ramadan, the government gifted food staples to 82,000 households in the Maldives. However, this year the president decided to gift canned tuna, which is most commonly used in households during Ramadan, instead of staples.

In the Maldivian market, a regular can of fish in oil produced by MIFCO costs MVR 16. At this price, 48 cans of fish would cost MVR 768. Based on this amount, MVR 62.9 million worth of canned fish can be gifted to 82,000 households.

During last year's Ramadan, the government distributed 1.6 million kilograms of food staples for free to 82,000 households.