15 Million rufiyaa granted as loan to fisherman

30 December 2007
Report: Ayya

Ministry of Fisheries this year has granted Mrf 15 Million as loan aid to those involved in fisher activities. Ministry informs that out of the 15 Million, 10 Million Ruffiya was allocated to projects involving completion of fishing vessels and upgrading of facilities and fisher equipments. Ministry also informed that the 10 million rufiyaa loan scheme was opened on 7 November 2007.

Ministry also revealed that the remaining 5 million was allocated for soft loans. Loans under this scheme were given to projects involving fisher activities such as preparation of dry fish as well as to new comers to this field. Ministry also informs that this scheme is a managed under the 2 phase of the Fisheries Development Program. The opportunity to apply for loans under the 2 phase of the fisheries development project was opened to public on the 21 of October of this year.

Fish catch until the October 2007 was 30% less than that of last year. When looked into tuna fisheries, tuna of worth Rf 106265662952 was exported by the 5 companies who fish in the 4 regions of Maldives. Mifco exported most fish, which is worth Rf 2778303600.

Government and private industries worked to catch skipjack tuna, buy them from fishermen, to freeze them and to make and export secondary products from it. This includes establishing factories and processing factories in Northern and Southern Maldives, and also to increase capacity in the current industrial centers. Main fisheries project was held in early 2007. P.A.F.Z. system established by the Fisheries Ministry to determine places where fish live by satellite imagery would surely bring healthy developments to the Maldives fisheries.