FAO and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries launch new project to strengthen livestock development and youth participation in Suriname

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) in Suriname have launched a new US$300,000 technical cooperation project to strengthen the country’s livestock sector and bolster youth involvement in the agri-food system.

The project, TCP/SUR/4102: Supporting the Surinamese Agrifood System through Livestock Development and Youth Engagement, aligns with the Country Programme Framework established and agreed upon by Suriname and FAO, focusing on modernising the sector using technology and data analysis to improve farmer and livestock resilience. It also strategically places youth at the forefront of these efforts, supporting the development of a national roadmap to enhance youth engagement in Suriname’s agriculture sector – with a dedicated focus on livestock farming. 

The project adopts an integrated approach that combines technical assessment and capacity development with youth engagement and longer-term sector planning. By strengthening the livestock knowledge base, empowering national institutions and young people, and improving policy coherence, the project will contribute to a more sustainable agri-food system through enhanced domestic livestock production, with the goal of reducing food import dependency for a more food secure Suriname. The intervention is fully aligned with FAO’s strategic priorities on sustainable livestock systems, youth inclusion, national capacity development, integrated agrifood system transformation, and evidence‑based policy support.

As part of the project launch, FAO and LVV hosted an inception workshop on September 17 to introduce key partners to the projects objectives and intended outcomes, while using their insights to refine concepts for a more comprehensive understanding of Suriname’s agrifood sector. Priority themes included livestock production, sustainable pasture management, and youth participation in agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mike Noersalim, in his remarks at the opening, expressed appreciation for FAO's support and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing challenges facing the agricultural sector.

The livestock industry, he noted, offers significant opportunities to increase national food production and reduce dependence on imports.

“Suriname is blessed with fertile soil, abundant water, and a favourable climate. And yet, we still import vast amounts of meat, milk, and other agricultural products. Every dollar we spend on importing products that we can produce ourselves is a missed opportunity for our own economy, for our farmers, and for our fellow citizens,” he said.

Improving the land alone is not enough, he said, and a broader strategy must integrate knowledge sharing, technology, production, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

Dr. Gillian Smith, FAO Representative for Suriname (ad interim) said the project's objectives align with broader efforts to develop a modern and sustainable agrifood system across the region. This project, notably, will strengthen Suriname’s livestock knowledge base, build capacity within national institutions, empower youth and improve policy coherence.

“Suriname has significant potential to strengthen its domestic agrifood system. This project is designed to address the industry’s challenges in a practical and sustainable way,” she said.

This project will reinforce the foundations of Suriname’s agriculture sector, with an inclusive, future-forward outlook that embraces modernisation, technology and youth engagement to create more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, exemplifying the elements of FAO’s core goals – better production, better nutrition, better environment, better life in a world free from hunger leaving no one behind.