In a significant move toward agricultural self-sufficiency, Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Mike Noersalim has announced a comprehensive national strategy to source all school meal products locally. The initiative, unveiled during the launch ceremony of the highland rice project in Pokigron, represents a major shift in the government’s approach to food security and rural development.
The ambitious program will require that all components of school meals—including rice, protein sources, and vegetables—be supplied by domestic producers rather than imported goods. Currently, students in participating interior schools receive meals consisting of rice with fish or meat and vegetables, but vegetables have been primarily sourced from Paramaribo or Saramacca regions.
Minister Noersalim emphasized the program’s strategic importance during his address to traditional leaders, farmers, and residents of Pokigron. ‘The government is implementing the school feeding program with the specific intention of utilizing all locally grown products,’ he stated, highlighting the interconnected nature of agricultural development and food security.
The ministry has already initiated a nationwide livestock program training entrepreneurs in poultry farming, with plans to extend these training programs to interior villages. ‘We have rice, complemented by chicken, and then we need vegetables to complete the meal,’ Noersalim explained, outlining the comprehensive approach to meal planning.
The highland rice project, a three-year initiative implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Regional Development, marks the beginning of this agricultural transformation. The ceremony was attended by Regional Development Minister Miquella Huur, Assembly member Silvana Afonsoewa, and District Commissioner Humphrey Jeroe, demonstrating cross-ministerial support for the initiative.
Minister Noersalim connected the local sourcing mandate to broader global challenges, noting that President Jennifer Simons has called for proactive measures in response to international tensions that have driven increased transportation costs and more expensive import products. He encouraged villagers to plant fruit trees as part of local juice production efforts.
Addressing market access concerns, the minister pointed to the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Marketing, and Processing as a key resource for ensuring market guarantees. He emphasized the importance of establishing community hubs or processing units where agricultural products could be collected and distributed efficiently.
The success of these projects depends on collective effort and cooperation, Noersalim stressed, warning that results would be elusive without proper collaboration. The ministry has already begun supporting land preparation for farmers seeking to expand their cultivation areas.
Finally, the minister highlighted the critical role of agricultural cooperatives in organizing production and enabling targeted ministry support. By establishing clear production structures through cooperatives, the government aims to create a sustainable framework for Suriname’s agricultural development and food security goals.