A pilot project has been launched to see if vertical farming can be expanded in the Maldives.

The Vertical Farming Pilot Project was inaugurated at a special ceremony held at the Hanimaadhoo Agri Center yesterday by Minister Aishath Rameela.

This is one of the most important promises on agriculture in the government's Hafuthaa 14 road map.

Speaking at the inauguration of the pilot project, Minister Rameela said the government aims to introduce new innovative methods of agriculture in the Maldives.

Under the project, vertical farming setups have already been installed and trees have been planted in the systems.

Three types of vertical hydroponics setups will be installed at the Hanimaadhoo Agriculture Centre. These included piloting the growing system in the vertical A-frame structure using the nutrient film technique introduced to farmers in the country and conducting pilot tests of the Pine Apple Tower System and Aeroponics Tower Systems. These systems are first testing leafy vegetables.

The pilot project will also identify the most suitable vertical systems for the country and introduce them to farmers in the light of the data collected by the team of technical staff of the ministry working at the Hanimaadhoo Agriculture Centre.