The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (LVV) has initiated a multi-faceted intervention program to revitalize Suriname’s declining rice industry. In a significant move, Nickerie rice farmers will receive 3.5 tons of high-quality seeds from the Anne van Dijk Rice Research Center (ADRON) this season, aimed at boosting paddy yields amid persistent sector challenges.
Concurrently, Agriculture Minister Mike Noersalim is negotiating with financial institutions for reduced interest rates and repayment flexibility for heavily indebted farmers. This coordinated effort addresses the critical imbalance between production costs averaging SRD 700 per bale and consistently lower purchase prices offered by buyers—a fundamental weakness crippling the sector’s sustainability.
The intervention extends beyond immediate relief through strategic collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to strengthen ADRON’s research capabilities and seed development programs. Additional focus areas include reducing operational expenses, particularly energy consumption for irrigation systems.
Statistical trends reveal a concerning production decline: from approximately 100,000 tons in 2020 to a mere 38,000 tons in 2022, attributed to extreme weather patterns and pandemic-related disruptions. Although 2024 saw a modest recovery to 46,000 tons, production remains substantially below historical levels.
A comprehensive 25-point action plan, formalized through a memorandum of understanding with processors and farmer organizations, outlines short and medium-term measures. These include maintenance and modernization of critical irrigation infrastructure such as the Wakay pumping station and Nickerie distribution system.
The ministry’s ultimate objective transitions the sector from intermittent subsidies toward economically sustainable rice production, enhancing farmer resilience against climate variability and market price fluctuations.