The Maldives, an archipelago located near India and Sri Lanka, faces significant food security and hunger challenges. With a population of 515,696 citizens, it is estimated that over 10.3% are battling hunger. However, increased efforts have been made to combat this rise in hunger in the Maldives.

Problem in Numbers

With various scattered islands in the Maldives, it must be noted that most citizens live in urban areas. However, despite this setting, 17.3% of children in the Maldives are underweight, while 10.6% are wasted, a condition where a child’s muscle and fat tissues dissolve away to the bone.

It is estimated that only 47.8% of babies are exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life. As a result, many infants do not receive the essential nutrients needed for healthy development, which could lead to significant health problems in the future.

Alongside the impact of malnutrition on children, it is important to highlight that the adult population also experiences a significant burden, with  42.6% of women of reproductive age suffering from anemia.

Causes of Hunger and Poverty

Various factors cause food insecurity in the Maldives. One major factor is poverty, which has been exacerbated by a decline in tourism. Tourism is estimated to contribute to two-thirds of the nation’s GDP, so the recent border closures due to COVID-19 have had a severe impact on the livelihoods of the citizens. With one-third of adult males and a quarter of females engaged in tourism-related occupations, thousands have lost their jobs, making it harder for people to provide food and other necessities for their families.

Climate change, environmental degradation and declining ocean health threaten food security in the Maldives. Rapid temperature changes, flooding and drought impact agricultural yields, reducing the ability to produce food locally.

Another contributing factor to the hardships many families face is the decline in fish exports. Since fisheries after tourism represent a significant portion of the GDP, many families that rely on fishing as their primary source of income have experienced severe financial impacts.

Road to Change

Despite the rising hunger rates among the population of the Maldives, several organizations have mobilized to assist those in need. A prominent organization in this effort is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is committed to advancing both fisheries and agriculture in the Maldives.

The FAO’s primary objective was to reassess the situation in the Maldives and create opportunities to grow the fishery and agriculture sectors. By establishing a stable framework, the organization enabled thousands to secure new jobs in the agriculture industry while increasing demand for specific goods.

Additionally, the FAO focused on teaching sustainable practices to hundreds of Maldivian farmers. By supporting small-scale farms, the FAO significantly boosted production in underprivileged communities. The organization also equipped farmers with the tools and knowledge to thrive amid climate change. This included providing methods to enhance the productivity of their crops, livestock and fisheries despite challenging climatic conditions.

Despite significant support from the FAO, the Maldives still struggles to adequately feed its entire population. While organizations like the FAO can provide short-term assistance, long-term solutions require active involvement from the government. To effectively reduce hunger, the Maldivian government must collaborate with nonprofit organizations to improve food security nationwide. By working together, NGOs and the Maldivian government can help decrease the overall hunger rate in the Maldives.

– Aditya Padmaraj
Photo: Flickr 
Updated: November 1, 2024