(de Ware Tijd) NIEUW NICKERIE – The government is to make US$30 million available for the improvement of the rice farming infrastructures in Nickerie, Coronie and Saramacca. Rice Organ coordinator Badresein Sital says it is a big investment for the entire rice sector that will be financed through a credit line provided by the Indian government. The government has been working on this project for nine months now, and, Sital adds, the investment is also intended to guarantee that not only 30,000 hectares will be sown in this season, but that this may increase to 35,000 and more each season. The coordinator claims the entire infrastructure must be dealt with so more water can be provided to the rice fields. He says that in case of a long drought, some areas may dry out, so it is necessary to deal with the irrigation, transportation and distribution mechanisms in the different agricultural areas. Sital claims the farmers will pay back the credit line themselves because of higher production, while the government will make the payments to India.
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