Suriname - Agricultural Sectors (2024)

FAQs

What is the agriculture sector of Suriname? ›

In 2019, the agriculture sector contributed 5.8 percent to Suriname's GDP. The Government of Suriname has designated the agricultural sector as priority area. The potential for agricultural development remains strong, with 1.5 million hectares considered suitable for agricultural production.

Crops cultivated in Suriname include rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, peanuts, plantains, cassava and citrus fruits.

Sectors related to agriculture include food and beverage manufacturing; food and beverage stores; food services and eating/drinking places; textiles, apparel, and leather products; and forestry and fishing.

The top three agricultural commodities produced nationally ranked by export value in 2018-19 were: Cattle and calves ($9.485 billion), Wool ($4.159 billion) and Wheat ($3.676 billion). Out of the $62.2 billion worth of food and fibre Australian farmers produced in 2018-19, 79 per cent ($49.2 billion) was exported.

These countries, led by China, India, the United States, Brazil, and Russia, are pivotal in shaping the global agricultural landscape and meeting the ever-growing demand for agricultural products.

China is the world's largest grain producer, yet has grown more dependent on food imports in recent decades. Much of India's output is produced by subsistence farmers and consumed locally. The U.S. is the world's top food exporter thanks to high crop yields and extensive agricultural infrastructure.

Which country is not farming? According to a recent World Bank report, the countries with the smallest percentages of land used for agriculture today include Suriname, Greenland, Singapore, the Bahamas, the Seychelles, and Norway.

Some rice is exported, as are bananas, citrus fruits, coconuts, and palm oil. Sugar, coffee, and cocoa, formerly important export items, are produced mainly for domestic consumption. Because more than nine-tenths of Suriname is forested, great timber resources exist, but they have not been fully exploited.

What does Suriname export? ›

Exports. Suriname runs trade surpluses due to exports of bauxite. Suriname's top exports are gold, precious metal scraps, refined petroleum, rough wood and bananas. Our main trading partner is the United States (23 percent of total exports and 26 percent of imports).

Surinamese cuisine is extensive, since the population of Suriname came from many countries. Surinamese cuisine is a combination of many international cuisines including Indian / South Asian, West African, Creole, Indonesian (Javanese), Chinese, Dutch, British, French, Jewish, Portuguese, and Amerindian cuisines.

The country started seeing a moderate economic recovery in 2022 with real GDP expanding by 2.4 percent.

Suriname's diverse cultural heritage is one of its major attractions. The country is home to several different ethnic groups, including Creole, East Indian, Javanese, Maroon, and indigenous peoples, and visitors can experience the diverse cultures through food, music, dance, and festivals.

Suriname is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the Americas. Most of its people are descended from African slaves and Indian and Javanese indentured labourers brought over by the Dutch to work in agriculture.

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats.

Sectors related to agriculture include food and beverage manufacturing; food and beverage stores; food services and eating/drinking places; textiles, apparel, and leather products; and forestry and fishing.

Primary sector companies are directly engaged in activities utilizing natural resources, such as mining and agriculture. Secondary sector companies produce goods derived from the products within the primary sector and include manufacturing.

Agricultural economics plays a role in the economics of development, for a continuous level of farm surplus is one of the wellsprings of technological and commercial growth. In general, one can say that when a large fraction of a country's population depends on agriculture for its livelihood, average incomes are low.