Vandals cut down 115 papaya trees; cause MVR 400,000 in damages

Vandals have cut down 115 out of 118 papaya trees planted by a farmer in K. Kaashidhoo, causing approximately MVR 400,000 in damages. 

The farmer told Sun on Saturday that only three trees were left untouched. He said that all the papaya trees were damaged, and that all the trees, expect for about six, were cut to the ground. 

“I farm during my free time after work. This is the first time my farms were vandalized,” he said. 

He said that the papayas began ripening in January, and that he sends shipments of at least 16 baskets of papayas for sale twice a week. 

The farmer estimates he sells 360 kilos of papaya per month, and earns an income of MVR 12,000-14,000 per week. 

“I came to know of this when a woman who went to the forest at approximately 06:30 in the morning of the 27th saw the damage and called. The woman’s husband was the one who called and told me,” he said. 

He believes the vandalism took place on Thursday night. 

The farmer said he does not know who could be responsible for the vandalism, and has reported the incident to the police. 

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— Aalim_13 (@13Aalim) August 28, 2021

He said that the police are investigating the case. 

The destruction of months of labor has resulted in massive damages to the farmer, who remains determined to continue his work. 

Kaashidhoo is one of the most farming islands in Maldives. The farmer said that while vandalism of farms had been commonplace before, such incidents later became less frequent.