AgroNAT vessels to be operated under MTCC

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has expressed keen interest in operating vessels belonging to the Agro National Corporation (AgroNAt) to facilitate the transportation of farmers' produce across the nation.

The "AgriBoat," a key component in this initiative, was developed as part of UNDP’s Project for Developing Sustainable Agricultural Economy (PDSAE), with significant grant assistance from the Japanese government. The design of the vessel was a collaborative effort, with the Maldives Police Service leading the design phase, supported by both the Economic Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry.

A meeting held on Wednesday between the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare and MTCC saw the latter expressing their desire to integrate AgroNAt vessels into their existing fleet for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.

MTCC has indicated that it awaits a decision from senior officials within the President's Office regarding this proposal. The company has also conveyed its interest in operating these vessels under the direct guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare.

Furthermore, MTCC has already developed schedules for the proposed ferry services and plans to share these details with the ministry for review. Discussions at the recent meeting also encompassed the development of a comprehensive logistics plan and strategies for disseminating this information to farmers.

The Agriboat is specifically designed with features to support agricultural transportation, including grain storage, solar power capabilities, and dry storage facilities. It also incorporates living quarters for the crew. The inaugural Agriboat was launched to service routes between the islands of Laamu Atoll and Malé.

Local Governance Minister Adam Shareef Umar, who officiated the launch of the vessels, previously highlighted to Sun that these boats would be instrumental in transporting agricultural produce while preserving its freshness, offering significant convenience to farmers.

AgroNAt was established in 2020 by the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government with the objective of fostering agriculture as a distinct industry. Last September, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, acting on ministerial advice, decided to merge and liquidate certain state-owned companies as part of the government's economic reform agenda, with AgroNAT slated for liquidation.

However, a Cabinet decision in March of this year reversed course, opting to resume the operations of AgroNAt, which had been previously halted under government cost-cutting measures. Subsequently, the President instructed AgroNAt to transfer its responsibilities to the Maldives Industrial Development Free Zone Public Limited, an entity established to prepare the reclaimed land of Uthuru Thila Falhu for agricultural use.