In the heart of Suriname’s Brokopondo district, what appears to be barren ground covered with bauxite, pebbles, and dry sand belies an agricultural transformation underway just meters away. Here, amidst seemingly infertile conditions, farmers Elvia Asodanoe and Duku have cultivated remarkable plantations featuring diverse crops including pineapple, okra, Chinese tayer, and bitter gourd.
During a field visit this past Saturday, Agriculture Minister Mike Noersalim praised the perseverance of these farmers, stating: “It’s commendable that farmers persist despite all challenges.” Accompanied by Edmund Duiker, chairman of the NOFA Fund, the minister assessed the obstacles confronting local agricultural producers in the interior regions.
Asodanoe, one of the visiting female farmers, expressed ambitions to not only expand her pineapple cultivation but also introduce new crops like soursop and markoosa. She remains confident about receiving necessary support for these ventures. Similarly, her partner Duku seeks to expand fruit production while modernizing his traditional farming methods.
Minister Noersalim clarified that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) actively encourages interior farmers to scale production and enhance market access. The NOFA Fund plays a pivotal role in this initiative by providing affordable loans to horticulture and agricultural entrepreneurs. Beyond financial assistance, the fund offers guidance on cooperative collaboration, production consolidation, and market distribution—enabling farmers to market products more efficiently and access both local and international markets.
A significant challenge identified particularly for women farmers in interior regions remains the lack of land titles, which complicates financing applications for expansion. Duiker emphasized that the NOFA Fund specifically targets those engaged in agriculture, livestock, or fisheries, offering substantially lower interest rates than commercial banks. He described the fund as a crucial accelerator for agricultural development, supporting investments in machinery, irrigation, and knowledge transfer to ensure sustainable and commercially viable production.
Noersalim stressed the ministry’s role in giving agricultural entrepreneurs “a push forward” to achieve accelerated development. “Not only planting is important,” he noted, “but we will also stimulate product marketing and processing support in the coming period.”
The ministry announced forthcoming visits to Pokigron to consult with village farmers planning expansion and commercial operations. Both LVV and NOFA urge all agricultural entrepreneurs throughout Suriname to leverage the opportunities provided by the fund.