Maldives became a member of FAO in 1971 and was accredited to the FAO Representative’s office in Sri Lanka in 1979. The economy of Maldives has grown rapidly since 1975, making impressive socio-economic progress when measured by improvements in socio-economic indicators and poverty reduction. The government has played a central role in the rapid growth of fisheries and tourism, which are the main foreign exchange earners of the country. Food security in Maldives has unique features as the country depends on imports for most of its food needs, including rice, which is the country’s staple grain. Outside of Malé, fishing and subsistence agriculture are the main sources of food security and livelihoods for the vast majority of the people. The agricultural sector of Maldives is based primarily on coconuts and other tree crops with only some 4 000 hectares under other agriculture crops. In response to the current food and fuel crisis, Maldives is integrating food security into national planning. It has removed tariffs on imported food items, agricultural inputs and fuel and is intensifying and diversifying agriculture and fisheries. Maldives is also promoting and strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in both these sectors, while providing financial support for small growers and fishers in rural areas. Climate change is central to all discussions about food security in Maldives, because it is adversely affecting crops and fish stocks and reducing land area as the sea level rises. Developing agriculture as the third pillar of the economy, after tourism and fishing, is one of the priorities of the 7th National Development Plan, which is being implemented at present. The government is working with FAO and IFAD as well as the private sector to develop agriculture by introducing new and innovative techniques and technology that would make farming into a vehicle for commercially viable sustainable rural development. Since the early 1970’s, FAO has provided assistance to the government through national and regional programmes to address the needs and priorities of the country. Direct support from FAO in the form of targeted Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects has totalled US$9.5 million. Additionally, Maldives has been a recipient of support from numerous regional TCP projects. The country also received substantial amounts of emergency assistance for post tsunami recovery in 2005 and 2006. Donors supporting development through FAO in Maldives include: Japan, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, EC, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands.