JP pledges to solve grievances of fishers and farmers

Jumhooree Party (JP) has announced its manifesto policies aimed at boosting the fisheries and agriculture sectors to address the grievances of local fishers and farmers.

JP leader Qasim Ibrahim’s advisor and former State Electric Company (STELCO) Managing Director Hassan Mughnee spoke at Wednesday evening’s forum to address the party’s “Sina’athaa Viyafaareege Nafaa Farudhunge Jeebah” (Economic and commercial benefits to the public’s pocket) policy. He said that both the fishing and agriculture sectors had been neglected by previous administrations.

Mughnee said that JP formulated its policy after carefully considering the concerns voiced by local fishers and farmers. He assured that under a presidency led by Qasim Ibrahim, the party is committed to providing a comprehensive solution to address the challenges faced by these sectors.

"We have not made any promises that we cannot fulfill," Mughnee affirmed.

Former Minister of Fisheries Dr. Mohamed Shainy, who participated in the forum, expressed concern that Maldivians would be greatly impacted by the Maldives-Mauritius boundary demarcation. He alleged that the demarcation had led to the loss of some of the Maldives' sovereign territories.

- Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) shares

- ‘Lui’ (Easy) loan scheme to install brine cold storage system to store tuna on fishing vessels

- Development of a canning facility in the north and south of Maldives

- Development and affordable sale of 50 fifth-generation fishing vessels for fishing activities 100 miles outside of the shoreline

- Establishment of a “Fisheries Promotion Board” to promote Maldivian fisheries products

- Undertaking aqua culture projects in seven different locations in the Maldives

Shainy said that if Mauritius withdraws its protection of the surrounding ocean around Chagos, it could lead to an increase in extensive fisheries activities and a decline in the rate of fish harvest in the region.

“The portion we lost from our territory was also a loss for our fishers,” Shainy added.

Adil highlighted that local fishermen have primarily expressed concerns about the absence of adequate cold storage facilities, availability of ice, opportunities for fish weighing, and inadequate compensation for weighed fish. He said that fishing is a seasonal activity, and if the catches do not fetch fair compensation, it results in substantial losses for the fishermen throughout the year.

“If their catch is weighed and paid sufficiently, it becomes a steady income for their families,” Adil said.

Shainy said that subsequent governments have failed to carry forward the initiatives for fisheries and agriculture that were initiated by their predecessors, leading to inactivity in these sectors. He said that JP's manifesto will offer a comprehensive solution to the ongoing challenges in these sectors and will outline strategies for their improvement.

- MVR 200 million loan scheme for farmers

- Harvest and produce sufficient quantities of fruits and vegetables using modern technology

- Commence work in 58 idle islands issued for agriculture

- Establish an agriculture college

- Establish hydroponics and vertical gardening greenhouses

- Establish a national seed bank

Shainy highlighted Qasim’s administration will prioritize limiting dependency on foreign support to improve Maldivian sovereign independence, and to realize this, his government will encourage farming to harvest sufficient food supplies for the population.

The JP leader who is contending this year’s presidential election announced a manifesto specifically aimed towards reducing the state debt and increase the national productivity.