Under the government's Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), the Meedhoo Island Council has allocated a plot of land free of charge for the ice plant project planned for Dhaalu Meedhoo.
The project's contractor, Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO)'s Engineering and Projects Department General Manager Muaz Ali, stated that the island council has provided a 3,000 square foot plot of land free of charge to build the ice plant in Meedhoo. Muaz said that handing over the land required for the ice plant to MIFCO without charging any rent is strong evidence of the importance the island council gives to fishermen. Furthermore, Muaz noted that with this ice plant, fishermen in the area will have access to ice for fishing, which will enable MIFCO to receive fresh tuna.
"Councils also charge a symbolic fee. And even if we do not make a profit from it, we sell ice to fishermen at a cheap price with the aim of acquiring quality fish. Once this work is completed, quality fish will also be available from that area," Muaz said.
Under the government's efforts to establish ice plants in 11 islands across the Maldives, the work for this ice plant project in Meedhoo was contracted to MIFCO on September 24 last year. MIFCO has been given a period of 8 months to complete this project, which is being carried out at a cost of 8 million Rufiyaa from the state budget.
The Fisheries Ministry stated that under this project, a plant capable of producing 30 tonnes of ice per day will be developed on each island. The Ministry also stated that a 50-tonne ice storage facility will be built alongside the ice plant on each island.
Regarding this project, Meedhoo Council President Ibrahim Naseem said that in the future, when fishing vessels come to Meedhoo to get ice, the economic flow of the island will change, bringing a positive change to the income of small businesses, shops, and cafes. Naseem also said that in addition to Meedhoo, it will bring a positive change to the income of those engaged in reef fishing in nearby islands and the public involved in raw fish processing.
In addition to Dh. Meedhoo, MIFCO has also been contracted to develop ice plants in Sh. Funadhoo and Dh. Bandidhoo. This work was handed over to MIFCO under the government's efforts to establish ice plants in 11 islands to resolve the difficulties faced by fishermen in getting ice and to arrange for fishermen from all regions of the Maldives to get ice without any hardship. In addition to these three islands, ice plants will also be established at the government's expense in Kulhudhuffushi City, M. Veyvah, and Lh. Naifaru.
The other 5 ice plants included in this project are being established with the assistance of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) of Saudi Arabia. These are the ice plants being developed in HA. Ihavandhoo, HA. Dhidhdhoo, Sh. Komandoo, AA. Rasdhoo, and GDh. Rathafandhoo.
Not getting enough ice for fishermen, ice not being available from some existing ice plants, and burning fuel to travel to distant islands to get ice is a major challenge currently faced by fishermen. With the new ice plants, it is expected that the hardship currently borne by fishermen in getting ice will be greatly eased.
