PARAMAIRBO, Suriname (CMC) — Suriname has identified enhancement of ecotourism, the establishment of rural women cooperatives, and agricultural diversification as priority areas for the future socio-economic development of the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) delegation in Suriname has presented the results achieved in 2015 and the activities programmed for this year to stakeholders, partners and agencies in the agricultural and rural sector.

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Soeresh Algoe said, “through IICA’s support, the agricultural sector is looking forward to implementing the Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement by enhancing our agricultural health and food safety system, strengthening Codex Alimentarius activities and developing value chains within the different agricultural subsectors to further enhance our agro food systems”.

He said IICA’s initiatives have also contributed to strengthening the business and associative capabilities of vulnerable groups, like women and youth.

“Youth interest and their involvement in agriculture is vital to the development of Suriname’s agricultural sector,” he added.

“Suriname has identified agriculture as a priority area and a driver for future development: with an abundance of agricultural land and favourable agro-ecological conditions, Suriname scores with noticeable opportunities for increased production and export,” said Algoe.

Some of the activities undertaken by the IICA delegation in Suriname include the development of four Community Based Enterprise Centers in the District of Para through community-based enterprise training and the provision of computers, printers and furniture with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank.