| |
ith mineral resources, such as,
bauxite, oil and gold, agriculture, fishing and
logging contributes a relatively small share of
gross domestic product, averaging 5-7% annually.
Much of this contribution comes from rice and banana
production, shrimp and fish exports amounting to
about US$ 40-50 million per year (10-12% of total
export earnings) and lumber amounting to about 1% of
export earnings.
Against the background of the 6.4 million ha of
total land in Suriname, with 1.5 million ha
considered to have potential as agricultural land,
only a very small percentage of the population is
engaged in agriculture, estimated at 15% of the
labour force. Rice accounts for about half of all
cultivated lands and is a major export to CARICOM
(duty-free) and the EU (Cotonou agreement). However,
with the pending termination of Cotonou agreement in
2007, continued low productivity, high input costs,
and a growing debt-service burden will place
significant pressure on the industry’s survival
capacity and threaten the livelihoods of a large
number of small producers, agricultural workers and
their dependent communities.
In spite of its challenges, agriculture remains
critical to national socio-economic development. A
five–year Medium Term Plan targets the agricultural
sector as one of prime importance, as reflected in
the Agricultural Support Programmed (ASP). The
priority areas for investments in the ASP include
water and other infrastructure rehabilitation and
management, development of credit facilities to
support private sector investments in processing and
agro-industry, investments to expand production,
raise productivity levels, and enhance health and
safety standards in the sector. It is envisaged that
the free movements of goods and services and the
open sky policy will provide considerable prospects
to further develop the fruit, vegetable and
ornamental and flower production for export.
These national agricultural development policies
are in sync with the objectives of the Jagdeo
Initiative for repositioning the region’s
agriculture and rural sectors and as well the
hemispheric Agro Plan 2015 for improving agriculture
and rural life in the Americas. The convergence of
the priorities and objectives of the national to
regional and hemispheric ones will complement
government’s efforts at alleviating poverty, which
is most evident in rural districts and the interior
where ethnic minorities (Maroons, Amerindians) live
in tribal communities and where agricultural
activities are the main responsibility of women.
These efforts will also contribute to hunger
reduction and food security, and in more effectively
managing the food import bill, of mainly wheat and
flour, fats and oils, animal products and sugar,
estimated at US$50 million per year.
_________________________________
1 Extracted from the National
Medium Term Priority Framework for FAO Assistance –
Suriname Draft document, 2006
|