Total Area: 298 sq km
Land Area: 298 sq km
Water Area: 0 sq km
Climate Description: Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain Description: Flat, with white shady beaches
Arable Land Use: 10%
Permanent Crop Land Use: 10%
Irrigated Land:0 sq km
Total Freshwater Withdrawal: 0.01 c u km/yr
Per Person Freshwater Withdrawal: 18.44 c u m/yr
Natural Hazards Description: Tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise
Environmental Current Issues: Depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Total Labor Force: 159,700
% of Labor Force in Agriculture: 15%
Agricultural Products Description: Coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Photo Collage:
Rain from the monsoons bring a fertile land for Finger millet
http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/6F/6FAB8248-9418-4C7F-8F69-7118945A3ECB/Presentation.Large/Finger-millet-grain.jpg
http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/6F/6FAB8248-9418-4C7F-8F69-7118945A3ECB/Presentation.Large/Finger-millet-grain.jpg
Sweet potatoes are cultivated in agricultural plots and the sweet potato originated from the Americas
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac792e/ac792e02.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac792e/ac792e02.htm
In the Maldives, traditional; farming systems are based on shifting agriculture, polycultural home gardens, agroforestry and taro pits. Taro is grown on the southern islands
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac792e/ac792e02.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac792e/ac792e02.htm
Coconuts are grown on all the islands in the Maldives and coconut production is still a dominant agricultural activity. Products of coconuts and coconuts are a crucial diet for Maldivians. Also coconut timber is generally used for boat-building and construction purposes.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac792e/ac792e02.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac792e/ac792e02.htm
In the Maldives, shifting agriculture has been used for hundreds of years. Many vegetables and fruits are made in home gardens. The management and cultivation of crops are usually run by women and they play a big part in it. Cash crops include coconut and areca.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2634/3981986631_60fceea5b0_m.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2634/3981986631_60fceea5b0_m.jpg