Local production only meets a third of Suriname’s needs. Two thirds of the requirement is imported and this part accounts for US $ 300 million per year. Minister Parmanand Sewdien of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) presented this to parliament yesterday during the discussion of the draft law containing rules for the establishment of a National Institute for Food Safety (SNIV 2020).
If Suriname were to go from two thirds to one third in terms of meeting the need through local production, this would mean savings of US $ 150 million on an annual basis, Sewdien explained. The income from the export of agricultural products, namely fish, vegetables and fruit, amounts to less than US $ 100 million.
The minister also indicated that the government supports exporters with all the existing services so that they can meet the requirements of the foreign market. However, he believes that the local market should not be underestimated. The local market consists of just over half a million inhabitants, the minister noted.
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