The Agriculture Ministry has started to conduct a census on agriculture and farming in the Maldives. This is the first time that a census is being conducted in the sector. 

The census is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources, Maldives Bureau of Statistics, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

The Agriculture Ministry said that 39 parties which conduct agriculture activities on a commercial basis across the country will participate in the census. 

The activity will contribute towards gathering important data from the sector, and will prove to be an important foundational step in strengthening food security and identifying challenges, the ministry said. 

The study will also aid in framing policies around increasing productivity in the sector, sustainable development of agriculture across the atolls, and ensuring food safety, the ministry added.