In a heated session of the National Assembly on Monday, lawmakers sounded the alarm over the deepening crisis within Suriname’s rice farming sector in Nickerie. Parliamentarian Mahinder Jogi (VHP) brought the issue to the floor, emphasizing the acute challenges farmers face from excessive rainfall, significant harvest losses, and critically low market prices. He urgently called for government intervention to prevent further collapse.
Ebu Jones (NDP), another assembly member, acknowledged that some steps are being taken but stressed that many critical issues demand immediate resolution. The debate highlighted that while problems have persisted for years, the current situation has reached a critical point, placing immense financial and operational pressure on farmers due to poor yields and unfavorable production conditions.
Jones also criticized past governmental policies, pointing to longstanding mismanagement in the sector, including irregularities in fertilizer distribution, inadequate infrastructure, and unreliable fuel supplies. These systemic failures, lawmakers argued, have severely weakened the entire rice industry.
Parliament has now called on the government to move beyond vague promises and implement concrete, short-term relief measures for struggling farmers. The focus is on sustaining production capacity and restoring viability to the sector. Recent visits to Nickerie by Assembly Chairman Ashwin Adhin and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, Mike Noersalim, included discussions with farmers about necessary legislative changes.
In response, Vice President Gregory Rusland acknowledged the necessity of supporting the agricultural sector, confirming that further coordination with Minister Noersalim is underway. He emphasized that protecting production is vital not only for the economy but also for ensuring national food security during this critical period.