Thoddoo’s farmland largely occupied by foreigners, council warns of impact after major immigration crackdown

A.A. Thoddoo Council’s Vice President Ali Rishan says the island’s agriculture sector, long known as one of the Maldives’ most productive, is now largely controlled by foreigners, and the recent operation that took 107 people into custody will have some impact on farming activities.

On Saturday, Immigration, the Homeland Security Ministry and Police questioned 507 foreigners in Thoddoo and arrested 107 irregular immigrants.

Speaking to Sun on Sunday, Rishan said the island’s farms have increasingly been taken over by foreigners.

“As the farms have been given in this island, the farms are mostly occupied by foreigners now. A lot of Bangladeshis have been given the farms, so a large number of Bangladeshis are working there,” Rishan said.

He said the council has now drafted a new agreement for farm allocation to prevent land being sold or transferred informally. Under the proposed system, farms will be allocated directly to recipients, and only workers under their quota will be allowed to work on the land.

Rishan noted that previously, farms were allocated to households.

“Then some people living in Male' sell their land to foreigners or give it to them for a long time,” he said.

He said foreigners now occupy a significant portion of Thoddoo’s farmland, resulting in a large amount of income flowing out of the island.

“They have taken control of agriculture. They are not only here. They are also leading the Male' market. They are selling everything from here,” Rishan said.

He added that some locals have shifted from farming to the guesthouse business due to the rapid growth of tourism on the island.

The council has also extended the farm allocation period from three years to seven years.

Besides agriculture, foreigners play a major role in irrigating farms, harvesting fruits and transporting produce to Male'.

Thoddoo has previously faced similar issues. In an earlier operation, the council, Immigration and Police deported more than 300 foreigners who were found to be working illegally.