Coconut palms, moringa cultivation needs consultants

Agriculture Ministry has announced that they are seeking consultants to conduct a program on cultivation of coconut palms and moringa plants. 

The ministry stated that the 'Coconut Rehabilitation' program seeks to revive the cultivation of coconut palms, a crop long grown in the country but now declining due to aging trees and other factors. 

The ministry stated that the program is designed to grow a new generation of coconut palms using robust seeds or cultivars to ensure sustainable propagation across the islands in future. 

A consultant is needed to source strong seeds from across the country and to provide technical information for this, according to the ministry. 

The ministry is seeking a consultant for a one year period for the program which will be conducted under the oversight of the Director General of Agriculture and Director of Forestry and Coconut Rehabilitation. 

As per the announcement, the post comes with a monthly salary of MVR 20,000. Proposals can be submitted before 11am on October 15. 

Regarding the moringa project, the ministry noted that despite its numerous health benefits, the plant remains underutilized in the country. Hence, this project aims to create awareness on the benefits of moringa at a national level, encourage cultivation of good quality moringa plants, and support community level economic empowerment, the ministry said. 

A consultant is being sought to lead, support and manage activities under this program. This campaign will be designed with technical trainings and information on how moringa products can be marketed locally and globally, the announcement said. 

Proposals for this can be submitted until October 16, with the consultancy to run for a period of 30 days. 

Consultants for both programs will be selected after considering educational qualifications and experience, the ministry said.