(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The French enterprise Rungis, the world’s biggest wholesaler in fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and other agricultural products is interested in Surinamese tubers. There is currently a pilot project operational in the Marowijne district for which Rungis has supplied the plant materials. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lakhin tells DWT that the pilot involves four plants including sweet potato and dasheen taro. It is reported that Rungis approached Suriname to supply the products. The food giant already wants a delivery of four 20-foot containers a month. “They delivered the plant material for the tubers they want to Suriname via our Consulate in Cayenne”, Minister Lakhin says. This plant material was then multiplied under the supervision of Robert Power, coordinator agrarian policy of the President’s Office. The first harvest of sweet potato has been gathered recently, and ways to improve the products are being considered. Plant material will be made available to the local population that is already active in the agrarian sector so they can participate in the project, Lackin says.
