Former STO chief Amr: Govt importing everything does not ensure food security

The government importing all and every type of essential commodities is not the way to ensure food security, says Hussain Amr, the former managing director of the State Trading Organization (STO), as he criticizes the decision by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet to approve bulk import of over a dozen types of fruits and vegetables and other essential food items through STO.

The cabinet decision on Wednesday comes as Maldives grapples with inflation, with the price of even the most basic fruits such as an apple rising from MVR 4 to above MVR 13.

In a post on X on Wednesday, President Muizzu announced that the cabinet had approved the bulk import of 10 types of fruits, 10 types of vegetables, and other essential food items through the STO for sale in the Maldivian market.

He said that in addition to sugar, rice, and flour, STO will also begin the bulk import of items such as lentils, eggs, and potatoes.

Amr, who headed STO during the previous administration, criticized the decision, stating that there are far more important measures the government must take to ensure food security in the Maldives.

“The way to ascertain food security isn’t for the government to import everything,” he said, in a post on X on Wednesday night.

ފުޑް ސެކިއުރިޓީ ނުވަތަ ކާނާގެ ޔަގީންކަން ކަށަވަރު ކުރުމަކީ ހުރިހާ ބާވަތެއް ސަރުކާރުން އިމްޕޯޓް ކުރުމެއް ނޫން.
ކާނާގެ ޔަގީންކަން ކަށަވަރު ކުރުމަށްޓަކާ،
ވިޔަފާރި ކުރާ ފަރާތްތަކަށް ރަސްމީ ރޭޓްގަ ޑޮލަރު ދޫކުރަންޖެހޭ.
ރާއްޖޭގަ އުފެއްދޭ ބާވަތްތައް އުފައްދަން އާންމުންނަށް… https://t.co/B5U4htlxzh

— Amr ???? (@HusenAmr) September 10, 2025

Amr said that the government needs to support private businesses and local farmers, including by giving businesses access to the US dollars they need to import products.

“Businesses need to be provided with dollars at the bank rate,” he said.

The suggestion comes as businesses cite the high USD rate as the primary reason they are forced to raise the prices of products. While the USD rate is fixed at MVR 15.42, the severe USD crunch has led to the government tightening control over USD supply, and pushed the black-market rate for USD above MVR 20.

Amr said the government should also boost its support to encourage people to grow local produce.

He also suggested making flour out of vegetables such as taro that are grown in Maldives, instead of relying on wheat and rice, which are imported.

Amr also stressed the need to keep enough money in the reserves to cover four months of food imports, and to strengthen the warehousing system in order to ensure longevity of essential commodities so that the Maldives can weather emergency situations that could lead to a food shortage.

“A mechanism needs to be established to ensure long-time storage of commodities like wheat and rice so that essential commodities do not run out even in emergency situations that may arise,” he said.

The cabinet’s decision was also criticized by former finance minister Ibrahim Ameer, who said that food security isn’t ascertained by tasking STO with importing food items, but having the food items in question produced in the Maldives.

“This just means [the government] interfering in the business of private individuals,” he added.

???? އިއްޒަތްތެރި ރައީސް. ތިއަށް ފުޑް ސެކިއުރިޓީ އޭ ނުކިޔާނެ. ފުޑް ސެކިއުރިޓީ އަށް ވާނީ ތި ފާހަގަ ކުރި ބާވަތްތައް ރާއްޖޭގައި ހެއްދުމުން. މިހާރު ތި ކުރެވޭ ކަމަކީ އަމިއްލަ ފަރުދުންގެ ވިޔަފާރިއަށް ވަދެވެނީ. https://t.co/VjSGZGlsXl

— Ibrahim Ameer ???????? (@iameeru) September 10, 2025

Locally producing essential food items is one of the goals written in President Muizzu’s manifesto. In 2024, he announced a mega project to reclaim 200 hectors of land at Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) to develop an Agriculture Economic Zone (AEZ).

But the government later announced that the project site had been switched to Fushi Dhiggaru Falhu – which is also the site for the incumbent administration’s largest housing project – the Rasmale’ project.

President Muizzu previously hailed the project as a key initiative towards bolstering food security, economic rejuvenation, and minimizing reliance on imports.