Director General Ismail Rasheed

Ismail Rasheed was appointed to the post of Director General of the Agriculture Department of the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture in February 2022. Since joining the Ministry in 1992, as an Agriculture Officer (Trainee), Mr. Ismail Rasheed continued to build his career as an agriculturist, and was appointed to senior posts in the Agriculture Department as he gained knowledge and experience.

Prior to his departure to undertake higher studies, his mail responsibility as an agricultural extensionist was transferring agricultural technology to farmers. Mr. Ismail Rasheed was instrumental in coordinating and delivering training programs conducted in Mendhoo Agriculture Center (MAC), In addition he was also actively involved in organizing and implementing the training programs in Hanimaadhoo Agriculture Center (HAC). Both the centers were established under the Agriculture Department of the Ministry to strengthen agricultural research and extension as well as to introduce commercial agriculture to the Maldives. His exposure to agriculture development both technically and management was strengthened by the knowledge he gained from attending various international workshops and seminars.

Mr. Ismail Rasheed provided his services to the Ministry for 16 years before he got an opportunity to undertake his undergraduate studies in 2008. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India he continued his academic career and completed his Masters of Science in Horticulture (Floriculture and Landscape Architecture) from the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, India in 2016.

After his post-graduate studies, Mr. Ismail Rasheed resumed his service in the Ministry in 2016, as an Agriculture Officer. The same year he was appointed as the Director and was assigned to lead the Crop production and Product Diversification section. Over the last 6 years he contributed his knowledge and experience in developing government policies and strategies for local agricultural development and managing the Agriculture Department alongside his colleagues. He provided support to implement several programs with new government agriculture policy interventions. One of the key programs he led was the “Food Security” program where farmers and households were supported to grow traditional crops and nutritious diets. Another key project which he led was the ‘Import Substitute Program”, to help achieve the government’s target to reduce the import of major 5 crops which has a competitive advantage for cultivating locally in the Maldives. Prior to his post as the Director General, he was also leading government agriculture loan program “Danduveri Nafaa”.

Mr. Ismail Rasheed had also represented the Maldives Agriculture Sector in meetings of International and regional organizations such as FAO, ADB and SAARC. Mr. Ismail Rasheed closely works with SAARC Agriculture Center (SAC) and is an active member of SAARC Technical Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. He is also the National focal point for the ongoing project “Livelihood Enhancement of the Small Farmers in SAARC Region through Small Scale Agro-business Focusing on Value Chain Development” funded by SAARC Development Fund and coordinated by SAC. At present, he is also a member of the governing body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.


Mr. Ismail Rasheed in his 20+ years of government service, had only worked for the Agriculture Department. As the Head of the Agriculture Department of the Ministry, he is confident that together with the qualified and talented team he heads, he can carry forth local agriculture to the next level.

Director General

Primary responsibilities included overseeing the management and development of Agriculture sector in the Maldives.