With funding support from the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund (BACF), a community-based organic farming initiative was undertaken in Kihaadhoo by FAAM Foundation to promote sustainable agricultural practices, strengthen local food production, and create livelihood and income-generating opportunities for farmers.

As an initial step, staff of FAAM Foundation participated in an Organic Farming training programme in Malé in May 2015. With assistance from the World Bank-funded Maldives Environmental Management Project (MEMP), the team also participated in composting training in Weligama, Sri Lanka, gaining practical knowledge and skills in organic farming and compost production.

Following the training, FAAM engaged with farmers in Kihaadhoo to introduce the objectives and planned activities of the project. Twenty farmers joined the initiative, working together to adopt organic farming methods and improve the quality and sustainability of local agricultural production.

The project included awareness sessions for farmers and schoolchildren, as well as the provision of farming equipment, technical guidance, and practical training to participating farmers. By June 2015, farmers had begun to see tangible benefits, with the first batch of locally produced agricultural products successfully sold to resorts, including Reethi Beach Resort, Dusit Thani, Four Seasons, and Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences.

Beyond promoting environmentally friendly farming practices, the initiative aimed to strengthen local livelihoods by creating opportunities for farmers to generate additional income from locally grown produce. Developing markets with resorts provided farmers with potential access to regular buyers while encouraging greater local production and reducing reliance on imported produce.

The project also sought to address challenges associated with transitioning to organic farming, including changing established farming practices, encouraging greater participation among farmers, providing practical support, and developing sustainable markets for locally produced goods.

Further activities included community awareness and sensitisation workshops, field visits to Anhenunfushi in Baa Atoll, continued support for home gardening, composting activities at the Waste Management Centre, establishment of model farms, and the provision of organic fertilisers.

The BACF-supported initiative demonstrated how investment in sustainable agriculture, skills development, and market access can contribute simultaneously to environmental conservation and livelihood improvement. By empowering local farmers with knowledge, equipment, and opportunities to access new markets, the project helped lay the foundation for more sustainable agricultural livelihoods in Kihaadhoo and across Baa Atoll.