The ministries of Regional Development (RO) and Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) want to jointly establish fish farms in various communities in the interior.
The initiative is intended to provide alternative food sources and strengthen local food supply. Pikin Saron is one of the locations where, according to the ministries, aquaculture can soon be started. Santigron, Pikin Poika and surrounding villages are also being investigated as possible locations.
The plans were discussed on Monday, September 14, during a working visit by LVV Minister Mike Noersalim to RO Minister Miquella Huur. According to the ministries, the cooperation takes on added significance because of the recent pollution of fishing waters. In several interior communities, fish is an important part of the daily food supply.
Noersalim indicated that LVV first wants to train residents. Fish-farming tanks can then be installed. In the initial phase, the focus is on farming tilapia and tambaki. According to Huur, there is also interest among the traditional authorities in alternative ways of making fish available.
Expansion of upland rice cultivation
In addition to aquaculture, RO and LVV also want to expand the cultivation of upland rice. According to LVV Director Nicolaas Pinas, upland rice is currently being cultivated on five hectares in Pokigron. The aim is to turn upland rice into a niche product, without competing with the traditional rice sector in Nickerie. Hermien Pavion, director of the Directoraat Agrarische Ontwikkeling Binnenland, says that RO wants to further encourage cultivation. Pilot projects are being developed at four other locations.
Minister Huur states that production is already taking place in the interior, but that it needs to be expanded and better organised. RO therefore wants to place greater emphasis in 2027 on training farmers and improving the storage, transport and marketing of agricultural products. High transport costs make it difficult for producers from the interior to compete with suppliers from other parts of the country. The cooperation between RO and LVV is intended to contribute to solutions for these bottlenecks.
The production and processing of cassava, passion fruit and vegetables are also included in the joint plans.
Proposal for joint working group
To give the cooperation a structural form, Noersalim has proposed establishing an interdepartmental working group of RO and LVV. This working group is to supervise joint projects, identify problems and report to both ministers. According to the ministers, pooling knowledge, resources and projects should ultimately lead to more local production, better marketing opportunities and a stronger food supply in the interior.
