Ninety students from the districts of Marowijne, Brokopondo and Sipaliwini will have the opportunity to pursue an agricultural programme at pre-bachelor’s or bachelor’s level. With this education project, the Ministry of Regional Development (RO) aims to increase agricultural knowledge in the interior, stimulate agricultural production and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
The initiative is being implemented by RO’s Directoraat Agrarische Ontwikkeling Binnenland (DAOB, Directorate for Agricultural Development in the Interior), in collaboration with the Suriname Environmental and Mining Foundation (SEMiF) and the University of Sciences and Green Technology International (USTI). SEMiF is financing the project, while USTI is responsible for the education programme.
The ninety students make up the first group from the interior to take part in this programme. To make education accessible, special study centres, known as hubs, are being set up at various locations. On Friday, 16 October 2026, such a hub was installed in Marowijne. During the meeting, the students were given an explanation of the structure and course of the programme.
Agricultural knowledge must contribute to higher production
DAOB Deputy Director of Agriculture Cyrano Asoiti called on the students to make optimal use of the educational opportunity offered. According to him, it is important that the knowledge acquired is not limited to the participants, but is also passed on to others within their communities.
Asoiti sees a role for the students in introducing primary school pupils to agriculture as well. In this way, he believes, interest in agricultural activities can be sparked at an early age.
The ultimate goal is to further develop the agricultural sector in the interior. By making more knowledge and skills available, the ministry hopes to increase agricultural production and improve residents’ earning capacity.
Digital study centres make education more accessible
To give students in remote areas access to higher education, USTI uses digital study centres. These hubs have internet access, laptops and printing facilities, allowing students to attend online classes together.
In Brokopondo, four of these study centres had previously been established in collaboration with the ministry. On Saturday, 17 October, a fifth hub was opened in the same district. There too, the students received instructions on the education programme.
