Suriname plans big expansion of rice acreage

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – In the coming years, the government wants to increase Suriname’s productive rice fields systematically to 150,000 hectares in 2020. As a first step, these areas will be increased to 70,000 hectares. In order to double that amount, many measures still need to be taken. This was said during the presentation of the agrarian policy of the Agriculture Ministry (LVV) for the coming five years. Both LVV Minister Hendrik Setrowidjojo and permanent secretary Gerrit Breinburg point out that this target is achievable given the availability of sufficient agricultural land. Breinburg announced that in the coming two years, the existing infrastructure such as canals and polders will be consolidated in the coming two years. The areas will be expanded to 70,000 hectares in phases.