Agriculture Ministry has brought 5,000 coconut palms to the Maldives to combat the coconut shortage issue.

Speaking at a discussion held on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan stated that the 5,000 coconut palms were brought in to solve the coconut shortage issue.

"The coconut palms are currently under the Ministry's care and we are checking them for diseases before handing over to island councils," Dr. Hussain said.

The Minister did not specify which country the palm trees were brought in from.