Minister of Agriculture and Wildlife Dr. Mariyam Mariya has stated that research is being conducted at the Hanimaadhoo Agricultural Center to solve the problem of mealy bugs affecting plants. The Minister said this while speaking at the “Ahaa” forum of ministers, jointly organized by the President’s Office and Public Service Media to provide information to the public. In a question from the public at the “Ahaa” forum, it was highlighted that there are many challenges in agriculture, one of which is the mealy bug infestation, and inquired about the solution to this issue.
Responding to this question, Minister of Agriculture and Wildlife Dr. Mariyam Mariya said that efforts are underway to solve the mealy bug problem. She mentioned that pesticides for plants have been received from an agricultural center in China, and these will be distributed to the islands very soon. The Minister also stated that research is being conducted at the Hanimaadhoo Agricultural Center to solve the mealy bug problem, and many efforts are being made to raise awareness as well.
“We have leaflets in our ministry, information that can be shared. We receive many emails from different atolls and islands requesting information. We are sharing these leaflets. We are also sharing information through our social media platforms, TikTok, X (Twitter), and Facebook,” the Minister said. Minister Dr. Mariya stated that this is related to climate change and food security. She added that the ministry is working on establishing food security using smart technology, following the methods used in other countries of the world.
In this regard, Minister Dr. Mariya said that projects are being carried out in HDh, HA, and Sh atolls through the MAP project, and in these programs, farmers are being taught about soil technology, plant care, and marketing-related matters.
