Food and Nutrition Security Policy. Government of Suriname

Transcription

1 Food and Nutrition Security Policy Government of Suriname Paramaribo, Suriname April, 2015 The Way Forward FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS i

2 TABLE OF CONTENT Page Title Page i Table of Content ii Executive Summary Acronyms and Abbreviations iii xi I. Background and Content 1-8 II. Situational Analysis 9-28 III. National Food and Nutrition Security Situation IV. Review of Existing Policies V. Strategic Approach to Achieving Food and Nutrition Security VI. Implementation Framework ii

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document presents the elements of a Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) policy framework for Suriname. It is presented as a roadmap for the attainment of the status of a Food Secure Nation, considered to be a major developmental goal of the Government of Suriname. The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy for Suriname is expected to provide a framework for coordinating and mainstreaming all activities of government, the private sector and civil society, related to the availability, access, food utilization/nutritional adequacy and stability of food within the country. The Food and Nutrition Security Policy is being presented against the background of a country: With an estimated total population of 530,900; with the vast majority living in the capital (Paramaribo) or on the coast; in the coastal area. That is middle-income and rich in natural extractive resources (gold, oil and bauxite) with relatively strong institutions. With the economy doing well despite the global economic downturn being experienced in many countries. Where in general, growth has been driven by extractive industries. That over the period the percentage contribution of agriculture to GDP fluctuated between 7% and 11%. The services or tertiary sector which includes the tourism industry contributed an average of between 44-64% to GDP over the period In terms of HDI positioning the country ranked at 100 out of 187 countries. Despite the economic progress made by Suriname, the country is still faced with challenges to all four pillars of Food and Nutrition Security: Food availability, Food access, Food utilization and Food stability. In fact, the country s level of poverty and inequality though improving, remain worrisome. In terms of availability, there is in general no shortage of energy, based on the nation s calorie intake per person. In fact, the energy intake of Suriname has risen steadily over the past 3 decades. However, there is a high level of import dependence for sources of food. The level of obesity in the country is fairly high and is estimated at 11.3 percent and 25.4 percent for males and females, respectively. Unhealthy eating habits are leading to increased rates of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases (CNCDs) and are impacting negatively on the health and wellbeing of our citizens. This trend is also reflected in pre-primary and secondary school-aged children. In general, there is no problem with the physical access to food, except in the hinterland communities. However, the Economic access to food poses a challenge to the poor and iii

4 vulnerable in society. Approximately 31.0 percent of the population is considered poor. To assist the poor, there are a growing number of transfer programs which assist vulnerable groups by providing jobs, food, business development training, home improvement, disaster relief, heath care and direct cash payments. The sustainability and efficiency of these programs are being questioned, particularly in identifying and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable. Finally, while our FNS position appears to be worsening with increasing rates of CNCDs, the stability of FNS has not been given much attention by the key stakeholders collectively. Notwithstanding the pockets of research that exist and the increasing social support programs, increased stability will be more effectively achieved by making workers more employable, or by increasing their productivity, as well as by using better technologies in production processes from primary production to processing and all along the value chain. There are a host of Ministries and State Agencies that can contribute to the development of food and nutrition security, including agencies in health, education, trade, public utilities, social development, housing and food production. Most of the Ministries have well-articulated sectorial policies. Some Ministries however, have only draft policies, which are still to be finalized. All sectors are supposed to be working within the macroeconomic National Development Plan ( ) and the Country Partnership Strategy ( ), in which poverty eradication and social justice are identified as key pillars. While food and nutrition security is featured the policies and programs of several ministries, there has not been sufficient collaboration among those key Ministries to ensure that the goal of adequate nutrition will be met through the various plans being undertaken, or to reduce the inherent conflicts that sometimes arise among ministries. These relationships must be strengthened for better FNS. All the challenges that exist cannot be removed at one time, however solutions need to be prioritized to make better use of limited human and other resources. Focus must be given to increasing productivity of systems, increasing the demand for local food via linkages with other sectors, increasing education at all school levels in FNS and improving public-private-civil society partnerships. There is also the need to provide the legislative framework needed to reduce the availability and/or access to foods that have lower levels of nutrition, primarily for children. Together, all stakeholders can work together for a food secure and healthier nation. The Government of Suriname is cognisant of the close interrelationship between food, nutrition and health in national development. The Government recognizes that the nutritional status of a population is the end product of many interrelated and complex factors reflecting the social and economic conditions of the country. A food secure nation has the capacity for greater productivity and is more inclined to socially acceptable behaviour. The attainment of the status of a Food Secure Nation is therefore considered to be a major developmental goal of the Government of Suriname. The Development of a National Food and Nutrition Security Policy was based on a process that was researched and is therefore evidence-driven, participatory and consultative and which sought to garner support from all relevant areas of society. iv

5 One of the initial steps in the process was the conduct of an assessment of the existing Food and Nutrition Security situation. This Situational Analysis combined several qualitative and quantitative research methods and processes. Research methods included the collection and analysis of secondary data. This involved the review of relevant statistical data and information on population census, poverty studies, surveys of living conditions, surveys of agricultural production, data on nutrition and consumption patterns, and other information taken from pertinent Sector Studies. Research Tools included internet and desk research. Sector Studies provided in-depth reviews and analysis of selected priority sectors and provided the foundation for making recommendations for policy interventions based on identified gaps. In particular, the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan is contextualized within the framework of the: National Development Plan (OP).of the Government of Suriname called Suriname in Transformation ; National Strategic Plan of Suriname ; The Poverty Eradication Program Plan of Suriname, 2001; The United Nations Development Assistance Framework ; The National Agricultural Innovation Strategy of the Republic of Suriname, 2013 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), ; CARICOM Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2010); and CARICOM- Strategic Plan of Action for NCDs ( ). Research also encompassed primary sources of data collected from key informant interviews; stakeholder consultations including farmers organizations, community and interest groups, private sector businesses, government ministries and departments. An essential step in the Policy formulation process was the convening of The National Stakeholder Consultation. It served to further ensure that the process was participatory and inclusive. This forum afforded stakeholders the opportunity of making major contributions in assessing the situation, identifying the gaps, and recommending appropriate policy objectives, instruments and actions. The Stakeholders Consultation also presented the opportunity for key stakeholders to examine and discuss various options that would provide the appropriate framework for the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan for Suriname. Several Policy Goals and associated Policy Objectives for addressing the food and nutrition security challenges of Suriname have been identified they are presented below in relation to the four pillars of food and nutrition security availability, access, utilization and stability. v

6 Food Availability Policy Goal The Government of Suriname will promote the sustainable production of safe, affordable, nutritious and high quality local foods through the development of competitive and diverse domestic food production systems and sustainable level of food imports built primarily upon mutually collaborative links with CARICOM countries. The Government of Suriname will ensure the achievement of the defined Food Availability Policy Goal through the pursuit and attainment of the Policy Objectives to include: Enacting a Food Security Law to ensure domestic production of a minimum threshold of a selected basket of foods based on the production capacity and capability the resource endowment as well as national comparative advantage and to ensure the availability of safe and healthy food to consumers; Increasing investment (public and private sector) in the development of natural resources pertinent to the advancement of sustainable agricultural and food production systems; Facilitating Human Resource Development related to agriculture, in order to ensure that farmers, extension workers and technicians are fully equipped to contribute to increased production and productivity within the sector. Particular emphasis will be given to facilitating the involvement of women, youth and the inhabitants of the interior; Supporting enhanced local agricultural production and productivity based on the utilization of impact-oriented research, innovation and technology development and transfer, thereby promoting the sustainable livelihoods for farmers; Promoting cost efficient value added production from locally produced and imported semi-processed foods and livestock products, and creating an enabling environment for the production and marketing of these products; Promoting development within the fisheries industry by the introduction of measures for the effective management, conservation, sustainable utilization and development of fisheries resources; and Strengthening the institutional coordination and collaborative environment at the national, regional and international levels, with the aim of creating the appropriate vi

7 institutional platforms and mechanisms required for sustainable production and marketing of Agro-food products. Food Accessibility Policy Goal The Government of Suriname will facilitate the sustainable development of Human and Social Capital thereby increasing greater accessibility to safe and nutritious food, especially among vulnerable groups. The Government of Suriname will ensure the achievement of the defined Food Access Policy Goal through the pursuit and attainment of the following Policy Objectives: Continuing to address the challenges of Poverty and Unemployment through the provision of sustainable and stable employment generating opportunities and the establishment of appropriate safety nets for the most vulnerable; Ensuring improved access to basic services by Vulnerable Groups; Focusing on the control of food price inflation for key items in the average consumer basket; Facilitating a better understanding of the poverty and food insecurity through the implementation of improved mechanisms for measuring and monitoring food insecurity and poverty indicators; improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the food marketing and distribution system; and Ensuring that persons made vulnerable and food-insecure during emergencies caused by natural hazards, economic shocks and food shortages, have access to food. vii

8 Food Utilization Policy Goal The Government of Suriname will improve the nutritional status and well-being of the population through the promotion and consumption of safe, affordable, nutritious quality Caribbean food commodities/products. The Government of Suriname will ensure the achievement of the defined Food Utilization Policy Goal through the pursuit and attainment of the following Policy Objectives, to include: Increasing consumer awareness of nutritional standards and food safety; Advocating for consumer protection through improved food quality and safety; Promoting and supporting appropriate diets, physical activity and other healthy lifestyle behaviours to reduce the levels of obesity, non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs); Improving the nutritional status of infants and young children; Improving Food and Nutrition practices in schools by appropriate education and improvement to the School Nutrition Program; Promoting early health care, including nutrition counselling service for PLHIV; Promoting Nutrition and other Preventative Measures to Control Micronutrient Deficiencies. Food Stability Policy Goal The Government of Suriname will strengthen emergency preparedness mechanisms in order to ensure the resilience of the nation to natural disasters and socio-economic shocks, including those associated with climate change. The Government of Suriname will ensure the achievement of the defined Food Stability Policy Goal through: Supporting the adaptation and mitigation strategies as a means of enhancing the stability of food and nutrition security over time among the vulnerable groups as a result of financial and economic shocks; viii

9 Supporting the adaptation and mitigation strategies that, over time, enhance stability in domestic food supplies and improve household access from threats of natural disasters and climate change thus enhancing food and nutrition security for the population; and Supporting the implementation of mitigation strategies that will facilitate the development of production systems and practices that are resilient to the impact of Climate Change, with particular focus on the Agricultural sector. It is proposed that coordination of the implementation of the FNS Policy be placed under the purview of a multi-sector inter-ministerial committee consisting of the relevant agencies, civil society and the private sector. The transformation of this body into a National Food and Nutrition Security Council/Commission or otherwise, will depend on the evolution of the national food and nutrition security situation and fiscal considerations. The overall objective of the Food and Nutrition Implementation Framework is to promote the implementation of all those activities designed to improve the food and nutrition status of every segment of the population. The mandate of the FNS Council should therefore include the following: Creating awareness of the vital need for food and nutrition planning at the highest level of government; Promoting the full diagnosis of the food and nutrition status of the population and the maintenance of adequate food and nutrition surveillance; Promoting the development of food and nutrition policies and programs as part of the overall development plan; Stimulating and coordinating the implementation of food and nutrition programs and evaluating their impact; Having access to all necessary information regarding the planning, implementation and progress in projects which are relevant to food and nutrition; Collecting, analyzing and disseminating information required for effective decisionmaking in food and nutrition planning; Co-opting resource personnel and mobilizing financial resources for the advancement of food and nutrition; Examining and making recommendations on programs, and on budgetary proposals and allocations in respect of the National Food and Nutrition Policy; Developing National Food and Nutrition Plans and acting as the advisory body to Cabinet on the interface of food and nutrition security issues; ix

10 Promoting coordination of the programs of various agencies influencing the food and nutrition status of the country; Monitoring the implementation of projects and programs and redefining policies and strategies; and Identifying research and training needs and making recommendations for satisfying such needs. x

11 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ADER ALBA CBO CCCCC CCT CDB CDF CEPEP CFNI CNCD COTED CSO DES ECLAC EU FAO FBDG FNS GAPs GDP GNI HACCP HDI HFLACI ICN IPCC MDG MEL MICS Average Dietary Energy Requirement Bolivian Alternative for the Americas Community Based Organization Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre Conditional Cash Transfer Central Development Bank Community Development Fund Community-based Environmental Protection Enhancement Program Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute Chronic Non-Communicable Disease CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development Central Statistical Office Dietary Energy Supply Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean European Union Food and Agricultural Organization Food Based Dietary Guidelines Food and Nutrition Security Good Agricultural Practices Gross Domestic Product Gross National Income Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points Human Development Index Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean International Conference on Nutrition Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Millennium Development Goal Micro enterprise Loan Facility Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys xi

12 MLVV MOV MNH MPO MRO MROGB MSJ MSZV MV NCDs NGO NHDI OECD PAHO PLWHIV RDA RFNSP RSHDC SLC TCCTP TCP UN UNDP UNFAO UNFCCC UNICEF WFS WHO Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Ministry of Education and Community Development Ministry of Natural Resources Ministry of Planning and Foreign Aid Ministry of Regional Development Ministry of Physical Planning, Land and Forestry Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing Ministry of Health Non-Communicable Diseases Non-Governmental Organization National Human Development Index Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Pan American Health Organization Persons Living with HIV Recommended Daily Allowance Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy Regional Social and Human Development Council Survey of Living Conditions Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Program Technical Cooperation Project United Nations United Nations Development Program Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations Children s Fund World Food Summit World Health Organization xii

13 1 1 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT Numerous publications by the United Nations estimate that by 2050 the world s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34 percent higher than today. Nearly all of this population increase will occur in developing countries. Urbanization will continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70 percent of the world s population will be urban (compared to 49 percent today). Income levels will be many multiples of what they are now. In order to feed this larger, more urban and richer population, food production must increase by 70 percent. Annual cereal production will need to rise to about 3 billion tonnes from 2.1 billion today and annual meat production will need to rise by over 200 million tonnes to reach 470 million tonnes. 1 Ensuring current and long-term Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean is therefore an important challenge to which governments must respond. Whilst the Caribbean is making progress towards the World Food Target and the Millennium Development Goal 1 of halving the number/proportion of hungry people in the world, there still remained over a million hungry people in the region. This accentuates the need for appropriate policies and programs that will address critical immediate Food and Nutrition Security issues and also lay the foundation for addressing long-term Food and Nutrition Security concerns. Over the past two decades and more, the Government of Suriname endorsed a number of global and regional initiatives that have influenced the national drive towards becoming a food and nutrition secured nation. Recognizing the gravity of the global Food and Nutrition situation, FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first global conference devoted solely to addressing the world's nutrition problems, the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN), at FAO Headquarters in Rome in December The FAO World Declaration on Nutrition (1992) stated that: "Hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in a world that has both the knowledge and the resources to end this human catastrophe... We recognize that globally there is enough food for all and... pledge to act in solidarity to ensure that freedom from hunger becomes a reality;" During the ICN, governments pledged to make all efforts to eliminate or reduce substantially, before the next millennium, starvation and famine; widespread chronic hunger; under-nutrition, especially among children, women and the aged; micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron, iodine and vitamin A deficiencies; diet-related communicable and non-communicable diseases; impediments to optimal breast-feeding; and inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and unsafe drinking-water. 1 FAO: (2009) How to Feed the World in 2050

14 2 The World Declaration on Nutrition and Plan of Action for Nutrition also serve as a guide to the technical issues of nutrition policy and program development. The issues of food and nutrition security have been given special attention by the CARICOM Heads of Government over the last decade. In September 2007, CARICOM Heads of Government convened a Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This was a landmark event in which Heads of Government took policy decisions to prevent and control the NCD epidemic. The 15-point Summit Declaration outlines a framework for policies and programs across several government ministries, in collaboration with the private sector, civil society, the media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and the community, aimed at creating supportive environments to make the right choice the easy choice. The significant increases in the food prices during , and again from 2010 to the present, as well as the world economic/financial crisis, which started in 2008, have affected all CARICOM Member States. This resulted in increased prices of imports and loss of export demand, increased unemployment, reduced income opportunities, tourist arrivals and remittances and decreased purchasing power, impacting severely on the poor. While there is limited data by country, it would appear that these phenomena have significantly increased poverty and malnutrition and the incidence of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs). The perceived need for an urgent and coherent response to the food security and allied public health and nutrition challenges facing the Caribbean region prompted CARICOM Member States to prepare a Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy (RFNSP) as well as a Regional Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan (RFNSAP), with technical support from FAO and funding from the Government of Italy. Both documents were validated by regional stakeholders and endorsed and approved by the Council of Ministers for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) of the Caribbean Community. The RFNSP was endorsed and approved in Grenada at the special meeting of the CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development-COTED (Agriculture) in October This milestone was reached through an innovative policy design process, looking at practical issues and problems in which Member States and regional technical institutions collaborated with the CARICOM Secretariat, supported by the FAO, in a Technical Working Group 2 (TWG) to formulate the RFNSP. The RFNSAP was endorsed and approved by COTED (Agriculture) in Dominica in The RFNSP provides the framework and the RFNSAP the portfolio of actions to ensure that the sub-regional food production, processing, distribution, marketing and trade, and food safety and agricultural public health system is capable of providing safe, adequate, 2 The TWG members included Antigua, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, OECS, CFNI, CAFAN, UWI, and IICA

15 3 nutritious and affordable food at all times for the sub-region s inhabitants, thereby achieving food and nutrition security. The RFNSP is set in the context of a mix of proactively linked national and regional policies (Common Agricultural Policy, Common Fisheries Policy, Caribbean Cooperation in Health, Regional Agribusiness Strategy, etc.) in support of health and nutrition and domestic food production and allied services at all stages and levels of the value chain. There are also ongoing discussions on Agricultural Risk Management and Crop Insurance Policy and Programs. The RFNSAP gives priority to the following areas identified by Member States: Promotion of increased availability of regionally produced quality nutritious food at remunerative market prices with increased production, productivity and higher returns to farmers; Identification and mapping of vulnerable groups with special emphasis on women, children, the elderly and the physically and mentally handicapped, and establishment of a national and regional database of this information; Removal of those non-tariff barriers to trade (SPS-TBT barriers), as well as the development of strategies to address regional transportation so as to reduce distribution costs and improve the movement of food commodities across the CARICOM Region; Promotion of healthy Caribbean diets and optimal nutrition, especially at all stages of the education system, to reduce nutrition related (NCDs) and malnutrition; Building of resilience to the recurring threats to food security bearing in mind that the Region is prone to the risks posed by climate change and natural disasters, through the establishment of a Regional FNS Information and Early Warning System, the construction of risk profiles for the Region s main crops in support of emergency preparedness, agricultural risk management and crop insurance. The Government of Suriname also endorsed several regional initiatives aimed at improving the food and nutrition situation in the region. These include the Jagdeo Initiative (2005) which describes a strategy for removing key constraints to the development of Community Agriculture; the Port of Spain Declaration (2007) to eliminate NCDs; the Liliendaal Declaration on Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security and on Climate Change (2009); and the Community Agriculture Policy (2010). Over the past decade the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO) in collaboration with CARIFORUM, has

16 4 supervised the implementation of several major projects impacting Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean. These projects have resulted in a number of significant outputs including: A clearer understanding of the principles and concepts of food and nutrition security and vulnerability and of the factors impacting on food security at the national and community levels; The use of basic qualitative and quantitative tools and methods for food security and vulnerability analyses; and The identification of policy interventions and programs at the national and community levels that are improving national food security; In March 2012 approval was granted for a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP/RLA/3314) to be executed by the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office of FAO, that would facilitate the elaboration of Food and Nutrition Security Policies and Plans for Nine (9) Member States of the CARICOM Region (Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts- Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Suriname). This initiative represented a continuation of FAO s support to the Food and Nutrition Security Agenda in the CARICOM Region, by ensuring that Member States develop FNS Policies and Actions in keeping with the overarching Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Plan. The Government of Suriname has provided noteworthy political and technical support to Regional FNS Initiatives. This has been reflected in the exemplary level of collaboration provided by Government Ministers and Representatives at Regional Flora and Consultations. 1.2 ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY As defined by the 1996 World Food Summit, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. (WFS, 1996 para. 1). This definition integrates availability of food, access to food, and the biological utilization of food and the stability of these. Availability relates to improving sustainable productivity in farming systems. It is underpinned by having sustainable, healthy food systems in place in-country, including

17 5 better natural resources management and conservation, and enabling policies to enhance productivity. Food availability is also dependent upon the level of storage or stocks of food. Access has two main components: physical access and economic access. The physical access refers to a person s ability to reach a market for food products (physical or virtual marketplace). This would depend largely on the distance to market or the ability to use technology to access virtual markets. Economic access relates to peoples access to food through their purchasing power and their ability to generate income from cash crops, livestock products and other enterprises. Access also takes into consideration access to regional and global food systems, through trade. Utilization relates to improving nutrition and food safety, increasing diversity in diets, reducing post-harvest loss and adding value to food. The Stability dimension of food security emphasizes the importance of having to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the other three dimensions: food availability, access to food or food utilization. These three dimensions should be stable over time and not be affected negatively by natural, social, economic or political factors. The achievement of improvements in any one of the four elements alone is necessary but insufficient to improve food and nutrition security. These factors are interrelated. Having food available at a national level would mean little if vulnerable and food insecure people lack the purchasing power or income to purchase food. Likewise, having the purchasing power or income to purchase food matters less if the food available in markets was insufficient. Food availability and/or markets access would also means little if poor health status impinges on people s ability to utilize the food they consume. Hence, developing policies and interventions to increase food and nutrition security requires an understanding of each of these factors, their inter-relations and their relevance to particular groups of people and stakeholders. The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Plan serves to bring together the four dimensions of FNS; highlight lessons learned and good practices developed at sectorial levels; and to target the most vulnerable groups by combining prevention initiatives/crisis management with longer-term sustainable initiatives. In addressing these elements, there is need to consider institutional arrangements, gender and cultural norms that enable effective involvement of marginalized and poor communities in improving food availability, access and utilization. A policy defines the underlying philosophy and approach that guides the practice of an organization, institution, or in this case a country. In general, a policy is a statement of intent that guides and constrains subsequent decision-making and action as well as, delegate authority and tasks.

18 6 Food and Nutrition Security Policy of Suriname could therefore be defined as the underlying Ethos, Goals, Objectives, Priorities and Decisions adopted by a government that influences the level of stability with regards to food availability, access, and nutritional and dietary well-being of the countries population. Food and Nutrition Security Policies are therefore critical elements in determining the rate and pattern of socio-economic growth and development within a country. The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy will provide a framework for coordinating and mainstreaming all activities of government and civil society, related to the availability, access, quality and stability of food within the country. The Development of a National Food and Nutrition Security Policy for Suriname was therefore based on a process that was research driven, participatory and consultative and which sought to garner support from all relevant areas of society. One of the initial steps in the process was the conduct of an Assessment of the existing Food and Nutrition Security situation in the country. This Situational Analysis combined several qualitative and quantitative research methods and processes. Research methods included the collection and analysis of secondary data. This involved the review of relevant statistical data and information population census, poverty studies surveys of living conditions, surveys of agricultural production, data on nutrition and consumption patterns, and other information taken from pertinent Sector Studies. Research Tools included internet and desk research. Sector Studies provided in-depth reviews and analysis of selected priority sectors and provide the foundation for making recommendations for policy interventions based on identified gaps. In particular, the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan is contextualized within the framework of and aligned with the national development priorities as expressed by the Government of Suriname in the: National Development Plan (OP).of the Government of Suriname called Suriname in Transformation ; National Strategic Plan of Suriname ; The Poverty Eradication Program Plan of Suriname, 2001; The United Nations Development Assistance Framework ; The National Agricultural Innovation Strategy of the Republic of Suriname, 2013 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), ; CARICOM Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2010); and CARICOM- Strategic Plan of Action for NCDs ( ).

19 7 Research also encompassed primary sources of data collected from key informant interviews, stakeholder consultations, including farmers organizations, community and interest group, private sector businesses, government ministries and departments. Diverse background documents produced during the Consultancy for the elaboration of the FNS Policy and Action Plan, including: A Report on the state of food and nutrition insecurity in Suriname; An assessment of the extent to which ongoing programmes address priority food and nutrition security concerns and issues for specific groups (e.g., young men and women, female business people, etc map existing.); A report on the current institutional arrangements for food and nutrition security matters; Documentation of measures taken to reduce the real cost of food (e.g., improved productivity of import and domestic agricultural and food value chains); Identification of strategic productivity-enhancing investments in select import substitution crops/livestock/fisheries/products; Documentation of options taken to improve the design and targeting of nondistorting social protection programmes and safety nets for poor and vulnerable households; An assessment of Suriname food consumption patterns and suggested approaches for improving nutritional adequacy; and Documentation of existing Disaster Risk Management programmes including the use of diverse instruments such as insurance and physical food and financial reserves. An essential step in the Policy formulation process was the convening of The National Stakeholder Consultation. It served to further ensure that the process was participatory and inclusive. This forum afforded stakeholders the opportunity of making major contributions in assessing the situation, identification of gaps, and recommending appropriate policy objectives and actions. The preparation of a successful Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan requires stakeholder responsibility and collaboration. Public sector, private sector and civil society all need to contribute and collaborate in the process. They also need to be fully cognizant of their respective important roles in the development process. It is for this reason that the identification of the appropriate coordination and implementation framework is a critical part of the process. The Stakeholders Consultation presented the opportunity for key stakeholders to examine and discuss various options that would provide the appropriate framework for the

20 8 coordination, implementation and monitoring of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan for Suriname. This report on the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan for Suriname is the result of the increasing worldwide awareness that humankind will only be able to exist prosperously when safe nutritious food is sufficiently, equally and easily accessible and available to all persons in Suriname. 2 SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS 2.1 EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT The Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan for Suriname is being prepared within an international environment that is still being influenced by the global financial and economic crises that had their beginning approximately seven years ago. The characteristics of this environment include low or negative economic growth, high or rising unemployment, bulging national debts, huge operating deficits and low investments within the developed and developing countries. Available economic analyses point to the fact that growth in the global economy, estimated at 3.7% in 2012, continues to be sluggish with negative impact on the developing world including Suriname. High food and fuel prices and the dynamic changes taking place within the international trading arrangements under the WTO are other important features of the international environment which are critical to development in small open economies such as Suriname. The dynamic changes taking place with the international environment have impacted several global social and economic trends and presented new challenges to the attainment of food and nutrition security. These new challenges are generally being felt most strongly

21 9 in the developing countries, such as those of the CARICOM region, the including Suriname to a lesser degree. Among these trends are: the worsening fiscal situation, including widening of the fiscal and external current account deficits and increasing public debt to GDP ratios; the increasing levels of poverty; the large and increasing number of undernourished in the world; the rising inequality and the associated problems of access to food by the most vulnerable populations; the volatility and high levels of food and input prices, significant increases occurring in the food and input prices during , and again from 2010; the increasing levels of structurally high unemployment and underemployment, especially among women and youth; the increased scarcity of key natural resources exacerbated by climate variability and climate change; the erosion of preferential treatments associated with various trading blocs/regimes, as a result of the globalization and trade liberalization; and the falling levels of development assistance being directed to the developing countries of the Caribbean region. In addition, there has been an increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, linked to climate variability and climate change. Extreme weather events such as drought and floods are increasingly impacting the levels of production and productivity as well as the quality of primary agricultural and food products. The impact of these dynamic changes on the macro-economic and agriculture and food, health and education sectors, and the implications for food and nutrition security are discussed in various sections of the document. 2.2 OVERVIEW OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION Physical Characteristics Suriname, officially known as the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America. It is bordered by French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, making it the only country not to border any of the Spanish-speaking countries on the continent. (French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France, does not border any Spanish-speaking countries either). The southernmost borders with French Guiana and Guyana are disputed by these countries along the Marowijne and

22 10 Corantijn rivers, respectively. A part of the disputed maritime boundary with Guyana was arbitrated by a tribunal convened under the rules set out in Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 20 September Suriname was colonized by the English and the Dutch in the 17 th century. In 1667 it was captured by the Dutch, who governed Suriname as Dutch Guiana until At that time it was designated as one of the constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, next to the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles (dissolved in 2010). On 25 November 1975, the country of Suriname left the Kingdom of the Netherlands to become independent. A member of CARICOM, it is considered a Caribbean country and has trade and cultural exchanges with the Caribbean nations. At just under 165,000 km 2 (64,000 sq miles), Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America. (French Guiana, while less extensive and populous, is an overseas department of France.). Situated on the Guiana Shield, it lies mostly between latitudes 1 and 6 N, and longitudes 54 and 58 W. The country can be divided into two main geographic areas. The northern, lowland coastal area (roughly above the line Albina-Paranam-Wageningen) is the main agricultural and cultivated region, and also where most of the population lives. The southern part consists of tropical rainforest and sparsely inhabited savannah along the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname's land surface. The two main mountain ranges are the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. Julianatop is the highest mountain in the country at 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) above sea level. Other mountains include Tafelberg at 1,026 metres (3,366 ft), Mount Kasikasima at 718 metres (2,356 ft), Goliathberg at 358 metres (1,175 ft) and Voltzberg at 240 metres (790 ft) Population Distribution and Density As indicated in Figure 1, Suriname has a population of approximately 539,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.

23 11 Figure 1: Population of Suriname The official language is Dutch. It is the only independent entity in the Americas where Dutch is spoken. It is made up of several distinct ethnic groups. East Indians form 27% of the population. They are descendants of 19th-century contract workers from India. Surinamese Maroons form 21.7% of the population and are divided into five main groups: Ndyuka (Aucans), Kwinti, Matawai, Saramaccans and Paramaccans. Surinamese Creoles form 15.7% of the population. They are the mixed descendants of West African slaves and Europeans (mostly Dutch). Javanese (descendants of contract workers from the former Dutch East Indies on the island of Java, Indonesia), [36] form 14% of the population. mainly in Nickerie, Saramacca, Wanica, Paramaribo and Commewijne Chinese, mainly descendants of the earliest 19th-century contract workers. The 1990s and early 21st century saw renewed immigration on a large scale. In the year 2011 there were over 40,000 Chinese in Suriname. Indigenous Americans, the original inhabitants of Suriname, form 3.7% of the population. They live mainly in the districts of Paramaribo, Wanica, Marowijne and Sipaliwini. [37] Europeans, descendants of Dutch 19th-century immigrant farmers, Portuguese from Madeira and other European peoples. The descendants of Dutch immigrant farmers are known as "Boeroes" (derived from boer, the Dutch word for "farmer"). Most Boeroes left after independence in Today there are about 1000 boeroes in Suriname, of which some are still present in the agricultural sector of Suriname. Levantines, primarily Maronites from Lebanon, and Jews (mostly descendants of Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews). In their history, Jodensavanne plays a major role. Many Jews are mixed with other populations.

24 12 Brazilians, many of them gold miners. [38] The vast majority of people (about 90%) live in Paramaribo or on the coast. There is also a significant Surinamese population in the Netherlands. In 2005 there were 328,300 Surinamese people living in the Netherlands, which is about 2% of the total population of the Netherlands, compared to 438,000 Surinamese in Suriname itself. The Population density (people per sq. km) in Suriname was last reported at 3.36 in 2010, according to a World Bank report published in 2012 (Figure 2). FIGURE 2: POPULATION DENSITY (PEOPLE PER SQ KM) IN SURINAME Labour Participation Rate Unemployment rate in Suriname remained unchanged at 8 percent in 2011 from 8 percent in The average unemployment rate between 1997 and 2011 was 10.3 percent, with the unemployment rate reaching a high of 14.0 percent in December 2001 an a low of 7.0 percent in December 2004 (Figure 3). Youth unemployment is estimated at 22.5 percent. Figure 3: Suriname Unemployment Rate

25 Macro-economic Performance The smallest country in South America, Suriname is an upper middle income country with a strong performing economy. In fact, it has emerged as one of the Caribbean s best performing economies over the last decade, due largely to its rich endowment of natural resources and biodiversity. The trend in the country s GDP over the period 2004 through 2013 is presented in Figure 4. Figure 4: Suriname GDP (current US$ M) The country recorded average growth of 4.4 percent for the period and the per capita income of its population of 539,000 has risen concomitantly to nearly US$8,900 in

26 The country s growth rate for the period 2004 through 2013 is presented in Figure 5 below. Figure 5: Suriname GDP growth (annual %) Suriname s economy is highly concentrated in the extractive industries (gold, oil, and bauxite), which plays a key role in driving growth, employment and government revenues. While high commodity prices have benefited Suriname for several years, reliance on natural resource revenues exposes the country to commodity price fluctuations. The sustainability of Suriname s development progress is also highly vulnerable to climatic disasters, especially flooding as a result of rising sea levels, which have had high human costs and created financial pressures for households, private businesses and public finances. To address these issues, the Government has given a high priority to the promotion economic diversification through broad private sector development, strengthening of social services, and better management of disaster risks. The National Development Plan lays out a detailed set of priorities and actions to address economic and climatic vulnerabilities. The Government has reached out to several international development agencies including the World Bank Group (WBG) and bilateral governments to assist in implementing its plan. The WBG re-engaged with the Surinamese authorities after a 30-years hiatus. Suriname s levels of poverty and inequality though improving, remain worrisome. The country ranked 100 out of 187 countries in the UNDP s 2014 Human Development Index. There are also significant inequalities between coastal areas, generally more affluent, and the rural interior. In September 2011, Suriname became member of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In mid-2012 IFC provided a trade financing credit line of up to US$5 million to boost Surinaamsche Bank s international trade business. The FY Interim Strategy Note

27 15 was approved by the Board on October 18, 2012 with a portfolio of a selected number of knowledge-based products to provide the basis for future engagements but not lending. The Interim Strategy was successfully implemented. IFC is currently actively exploring investment and advisory opportunities in Suriname. In 2014, the Government of Suriname requested additional support from the WBG which led to the preparation of a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) to cover the period This was finalized and endorsed by the Board of Executive Directors in December It was the first comprehensive strategy in 30 years. The CPS lays out the WBG partnership program with Suriname, jointly prepared by the Government of Suriname and the World Bank Group, comprised by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The new strategy proposes a lending program of about US$ 60 million to support Suriname s efforts in leveraging and sustaining its economic growth through greater social inclusiveness and economic diversification. Guided by the priorities of the government s National Development Plan, the overarching goal of the CPS program is to support Suriname s efforts to promote a more sustainable, inclusive, and diversified growth model through two areas of engagements: creating a conducive environment for private sector development; and reducing vulnerability to climate change-related floods. The program also includes one cross cutting theme to improve the capacity to measure and analyze data on poverty and gender for evidence-based policy-making, in particular with regard to reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity. The Suriname: 2013 Article IV Consultation: Preliminary Conclusions 3 (IMF news article, July 2, 2013) provides a good current summary of Suriname s macro-economic performance. The 19 preliminary conclusions and 1 encouragement summary findings of the publication are further summarized and presented below. (I) Developments, Outlook, and Risks 1. Macroeconomic performance strengthened markedly in recent years, but there are challenges ahead. 2. Growth remains robust, while inflation has declined considerably. 3. Bank credit is growing strongly, stimulating demand. 4. However, the fiscal position has weakened substantially amid spending pressures. 3 International Monetary Fund News Article, July 2, 2013

28 16 5. And the external current account balance has also declined. 6. The near term outlook depends heavily on commodity prices. Suriname is highly exposed to commodity price fluctuations, particularly gold which accounts for 67 percent of exports and 13 percent of fiscal revenues. Fiscal exposure to oil is also high, as it accounts for 29 percent of revenues. 7. Over the longer run, growth is expected to increase moderately if commodity prices hold up. 8. However, there are clear risks to the outlook. Downside risks to gold prices are elevated given substantial recent declines and a souring investor appetite. A sustained decline would have a major adverse impact on the macroeconomic outlook. (II) Policy Recommendations 9. Given the downside risks and weakening external position, policy tightening is needed to strengthen macroeconomic stability. A. Ensuring Long-Run Fiscal Sustainability 10. Fiscal consolidation is warranted. With commodity prices far above historical averages, fiscal surpluses would be appropriate to increase buffers and entrench sustainability. 11. The IMF urges the authorities to intensify efforts to establish an appropriate fiscal framework in light of the considerable sensitivity to mineral sector developments. Elements of such a framework should include the following: Fiscal anchor. Medium term expenditure ceilings. Revenue diversification: 12. Commendable plans to set up a nation-wide social safety net for health care and pensions should be implemented in a fiscally sustainable fashion. 13. Urgent reforms are needed to put the main public electricity and water companies on a sound financial footing. B. Safeguarding the External Position and Strengthening the Financial Sector 14. Moderating credit growth, together with fiscal tightening, will help contain demand, thus safeguarding the external position.

29 The IMF encourages the authorities to press ahead with plans to establish indirect instruments of monetary policy. 16. Suriname maintains multiple currency practices (MCPs). The IMF encourages the authorities to phase out the MCPs, bringing the exchange rate regime in line with international norms. 17. Welcome progress is being made on a substantial agenda to upgrade financial sector resilience. 18. Efforts to contain dollarization should continue. The IMF suggests that measures, such as higher provisioning or risk-weighting on foreign currency lending and limits on net open positions in foreign currency, should be deployed to resume a downward trend on dollarization. C. Enhancing Structural Competitiveness D. Other 19. A more supportive business environment would enhance growth prospects. 20. The IMF encourages the authorities to continue to strengthen data quality, coverage, and timeliness. Table 1 presents the medium term outlook for the Suriname economy for the period Underlying the economic outlook are the macroeconomic risks and challenges, including: External Risks o Significant exposure to gold and oil price volatility. o Limited exposure to changes in global output and demand. o Limited exposure to rising interest rates. Domestic Risks and Challenges o Inflation and exchange rate pressure through wage-price spirals or import demand. o Outdated laws and regulations o Inflexible and outdated public sector o Limited debt-tolerance due to vulnerability to exogenous shocks. Table 1: Medium-Term Outlook for the Suriname Economy, Medium-Term Outlook 4 Suriname Authorities and IMF Staff Estimates and Projections

30 18 DESCRIPTION EST PROJECTED Real GDP Growth (% change) GDP Deflator (Annual % change) Overall Fiscal Balance Non-mineral Balance Total Public Debt External Current Account Balance Gross International Reserves (Months of Imports) SECTOR PERFORMANCE Overview Table 2 presents the structural evolution of the Suriname economy during the period 2000 through to The table has clearly demonstrated, the significant economic transformation of the country from a service-based economy to a industrial extractive one based on the production of gold, oil and bauxite. Table 2: Structure of Suriname Output DESCRIPTION Gross Domestic Product (billion US$) Agriculture (as % of GDP) 11 7

31 19 Industry (as % of GDP) Manufacturing (as % of GDP) 9 16 Services (as % of GDP) Agricultural Sector The agricultural sector continues to play an important role in national development in Suriname through its contribution to growth in national income, employment, income distribution, food and nutrition security sheet, as well as in inter-sectorial linkages. The share of the agricultural sector in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost was approximately 7 percent in 2013, compared with 11.0 percent in Available data shows increasing trends in the agricultural crops and meat production and a slight decrease in the catch of fish and shrimp from Crops The major crops are rice, bananas, vegetables and fruit (Table 3). Paddy production increased from 163,955 tonnes in 2005 to 229,370 tonnes in The most important fruit crops include bananas and citrus fruits. The banana production increased from 57,839 tonnes to 82,267 tonnes in The composition of vegetables mainly consists of string beans, aubergine (egg plant or melongene), pumpkin, bitter gourd, callaloo (dasheen bush) and pepper. The production of fruit and vegetables in Suriname generally takes place in small-scale enterprises. Most farmers engage in horticulture on a part-time basis. The vegetable sub-sector is characterized by: Small scale production (acreage between ha); Farming population of between 3000 to 4000 agriculturist that work full-time or part-time within this sub-sector; A production system, utilizing labour-intensive methods (poor mechanization and/or automation);

32 20 The use of large quantities of fertilizers as well as chemicals to combat diseases and pests; Strong degree of seasonality of production, with significant price fluctuations as a consequence. This seasonality in production, is to a large extent, the result of inadequate of irrigation and drainage systems to address periods of drought and heavy rains; Limited willingness and options to invest in new technologies and post-harvest facilities (including refrigeration facilities) because of the small scale of operations; Weak business management practices (as relate to use of inputs, labour costs, depreciations etc.), so that they do not know their cost price. Table 3: Production of agricultural crops in tonnes Agricultural crops Rice 163, , , , ,370 Bananas 57,830 64,555 71,084 88,724 82,267 Vegetables 15,123 17,800 14,368 12,518 12,344 Fruit 5,189 5,574 5,250 3,228 4,841 Other crops 37,331 35,466 43,321 42,995 48,461 Total 279, , , , ,283 Source: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES The production of fruit and vegetables in Suriname generally takes place in small-scale enterprises. Most farmers engage in horticulture on a part-time basis. The fruit sub-sector (excluding bananas) is dominated by the production of citrus, water melons, mangos, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya and advocado. Other fruits such as cherries, soursop, guava, sapodillas, gennip and rambutan are being cultivated a very small scale. Most of the fruit production takes place in Commewijne, Wanica, Para, Saramacca and Coronie regions. Current technologies that are used on a small-scale in the fruit sub-sector area: Soil management Irrigation/drainage

33 Cultivation in greenhouses (hydroponics and outdoor) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Organic cultivation Table 4 presents the production of fruits and vegetables in Suriname for the period As demonstrated by the Table the production of vegetables shows a downward trend in the past 5 year. The planted area for vegetables is also significantly reduced. In 2010; compared to the year 2000, the planted area and total production, decreased respectively by 23% and 16%. Table 4: Planted acreage and Production of vegetables and fruit Description Vegetables Area under cultivation (ha) 967 1,092 1, , , Production (ton) Fruit 15, , ,138 16, , , , , , , ,17 9 Area under cultivation (ha) Production (ton) Source : LVV statistics Fruit production (excluding bananas) has been fluctuating since 2006 around 25,000 tons, going to 27,380 tons in Compared to the year 2000, the production of fruits increased in 2010 by almost 50%. Fruits and vegetables are largely produced for the Surinamese market and the best quality is exported to Europe (the Netherlands). The choice of crops for export is determined by the customers. The price for sales on the domestic market is determined by supply and demand in particular at the Central Market in Paramaribo. For farmers and wholesalers, there is no central market information system, in which the prices of the various products can be obtained. Exports of Surinamese fruit and vegetables (except bananas) goes mainly to the Netherlands. There are also unregistered exports to French Guiana and other neighboring countries. Some exporters are themselves also vegetable producers, but to reach export quantities they also purchase products from other growers. Crops like sopropo, long beans, ochra, egg plant, bitter melon, pepper, taro leaves, celery, bita wiwiri (Cestrum latifolium) 21

34 and sim (Dolichos lablab) are exported to the Netherlands. The export quantities fluctuate around 2650 tons of vegetables a year, but a peak export of 3239 tonnes was achieved in There is potential for sales to the Antilles and the Caribbean. Most of the fruit production is destined for the local market. Exports of fruit (excluding bananas) is on the low side. On average about 412 tons of fruit is exported per year. However, the year 2010 shows a sharp jump to 1122 tons. Please see Table 5 for details. Table 5: Export volume and value of vegetables and fruit Description Vegetables Export Quantity (ton) 2,732 2,873 2,390 2,783 2,936 2,757 3,239 Export value ( x SRD 1,000) 2,925 3,724 3,587 4,408 4,665 4,193 5,289 Fruit Export Quantity (ton) Export value ( x SRD 1,000) A very small quantity of fruits and vegetables is supplied to the local agro-industry for (light) processing. In Suriname there are a limited number of companies (including Inter Food, Carifruits and Rudisa) that process or package fruit and vegetable products in cellophane, plastic containers, foil pouches, mix packaging etc. Washing, cutting, cooking and packaging on a professional scale of fruits and vegetables and producing frozen vegetables is currently found to a limited degree in Suriname. A number of entrepreneurs anticipate on this growing segment of convenience for individual consumers, restaurants and supermarket chains. The critical issues identified in the production of crops in Suriname may be summarized as: With regard to the production phase it was concluded that a fundamental problem is inequality in the year-round production for Surinamese vegetables. Unevenness in the supply is caused by lower production in periods of drought and flooding. This inequality can be counteracted by applying Protected Cultivation. low quality products. Product quality includes: a consistency of product appearance, taste, shelf life, packaging, appearance and safety. The inferior quality of the Surinamese product is a result of physical damage and is among others due to inadequate treatment at certain stages of the chain; Farmers and exporters use bad post harvest handling, such as: - Farmers do not harvest at the right moment and in the correct manner; 22

35 - The products are not immediately transported to the warehouse or not in the correct manner; - Farmers do not properly store their products (not refrigerated); - Exporters transport and store their products inadequately (not refrigerated); - Exporters do not sort the products; - Quality of the packaging is poor/ does not meet the requirements; and Lack of cooperation between the various links in the value chains; there is a lot of competition between actors and a lack of trust; The main problems for the Surinamese exporter have been identified in the Sub-sector White Paper entitled Promoting Agribusiness In the Horticultural Sector in Suriname, to include the area of: Quality management and certification in the field of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), British Retail Consortium (BRC) and International Food Standard (IFS) is in its infancy, while the Dutch customers demand this emphatically. Logistics infrastructure - there is no efficient logistics infrastructure, no central collection centers and conditioned transport (cold rooms and refrigerated trucks). Only 2 exporters own cooling facilities. Products are cooled down to about 10 º C - 12 º C. In the processing area measures are also taken to make this area HACCP worthy. Freight and handling costs are relatively high in Suriname in comparison to competing countries such as the Dominican Republic. Freight options for Suriname are limited to two airline companies. The cargo capacity for exporters is limited. Lack of professionalism, because there are no contracts, means that Surinamese exporters receive no payment for products delivered, which can lead to cessation of exports to the Netherlands. Although there is an Association for Exporters, there is hardly any cooperation between exporters. An important role of the exporters, importers and wholesalers is the packaging of products as per the requirements of the supermarket / customer. These organizations sort and grade the products on quality, weight, colour, pieces, length, diameter, etc. For each product, these requirements are often determined by the supermarket 23

36 24 The products are prepared by the exporter in Suriname for transportation. Products are supplied in crates, boxes, bags or nets delivered to the exporter and then packed in export boxes of cardboard or styro-foam. A number of products is packed in nets. In the framework of traceability, the farmer s code (if not present, the name) is written on the packaging. Before the products are transported to Zanderij International airport, the products are inspected by the phyto-sanitary department of LVV at the premises of the exporter. This visual inspection takes place randomly. After inspection, the exporter may, after payment, collect the phyto-sanitary certificate at the office of this service. The quality claims of Dutch importers cannot be verified at this time because the exporter has no own staff on site. Exact data on the percentage of rejected products are not available. According to LVV the amount of vegetables rejected, on the basis of physical damage, on the export market amounted to about 33% in. The introduction of better packaging material has reduced product damage in recent years to about 10% -15%. Export Transportation Transport of goods to the Netherlands takes place by air. At present there are 6 flights per week, operated by SLM and KLM. SLM and KLM combine goods cargo with the carriage of passengers. Besides the freight rates, the exporters are confronted with high fuel costs, handling charges and 10% VAT. The transportation costs per kilogram; is estimated to be between $ 1.85 to $ 1.95 per kilogram almost double that of competing countries, leading to a competitive disadvantage. Many Surinamese vegetable and fruit products are shipped in cardboard boxes or nets. The Dutch importer is generally faced with collapsed boxes and damaged products. Product Innovation In the area of product innovation Suriname is running far behind the technological curve.. Labeling and coding now take place manually with stickers and stamps on boxes. However, it is to be expected that all products for export, will have to be provided with barcodes, making the product better traceable. The general awareness of exporters with requirements of supermarket chains, food service channels and hotel chains is limited. In addition to requirements related to packaging, logistics, bar coding and security of supply, international quality standards, such as Global GAP. BRC, IFS and ISO will play an important role in future export development. Much more attention will have to be paid to this. Table 6 below provides a detailed insight into the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the horticulture sector in Suriname.

37 Table 6 SWOT Analysis Horticultural Chain STRENGTHS The government policy (Min. LVV) is focused on diversification of production, products and export. The government is working on the introduction, training and institutionalization of international regulations. Harmonization of legislation in the agroproduction is happening gradually. Good climatological factors. Availability of suitable land. The geographic location of Suriname contributes to minimal risks of natural disasters (e.g. storms, hurricanes, earthquakes). Reasonable to well developed young and dynamic population. Approved pesticides legislation. WEAKNESSES Entrepreneurship is poorly developed. Insufficient use of the chain approach because of little cooperation in the sector. Strong dependence on weather factors. The gap between the requirements for export quality and the quality of the available product. Lack of professional, modern production and export companies. Shortage of field labourers (especially part-time workers) Low educational level and ageing of producers Insufficient seed and plant material of good quality Lack of cultivation protocols; production especially based on individual experience Resistance against new legislation so that certification is impossible Improper use of chemical pesticides Weak command of harvest and post-harvest technology Weak physical infrastructure High transportation costs in case of export Poor R & D infrastructure; insufficient research and extension; Insufficient market intelligence Limited credit facilities Insufficient public/ private partnerships OPPORTUNITIES Suriname can serve as the CARICOM food basket to cover food imports. Duty-free exports to the EU market (EPA). Anticipate on the Dutch ethnic vegetable market Availability of new technologies (for example protected horticulture) Certified production for special (niche) markets, hotel chains, etc. Develop new (agro) services and industries (agro tourism, etc.) Possibilities to generate jobs. THREATS The international regulations regarding quality; including food safety. Barriers raised by import countries to protect the own production/ market. Increasing quality requirements from foreign buyers/ consumers. Cheaper products of better quality from competing countries. Decrease international purchasing power (recession). Bad investment climate. No spatial planning of agricultural land. Lack of transparency in procedures with regard to obtaining agricultural land. 25

38 26 Environmental act not yet implemented. Climate change variability Livestock production consists of beef cattle, pigs, goats and sheep, chickens and other livestock including milk and eggs. Table 7 presents the production of livestock and fish products for the the period 2005 through to While the table shows stagnations or declines in meat, milk and fish products production, the production of eggs increased by approximately 21 percent over the period under consideration. Table 7: Production of livestock and Fish Products PRODUCTION UNIT ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Meat tons 11,259 10,923 13,911 12,117 13,425 Milk ,684 5,847 6,065 5,120 4,935 Eggs 1000 pcs. 38,539 34,633 42,912 36,190 46,769 CATCH OF FISH tons 17,395 19,062 20,000 17,179 16,000 SHRIMP (incl. farmed) tons 10,504 11,502 9,032 6,299 9,275 Source: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES The export of fish and fish produce increased rather strongly and climbed from approximately SRD25.8 million in 2005 to approximately SRD46.7 million in This increase is the result of both price development and quantity increase. Nevertheless there was a significant decline in the volume of crustaceans export over the same period in the rice, banana and fish sectors. Especially rice and banana exports have increased by respectively 45% and 51%.

39 27 Table 8: Export Value (X 1000 SRD)) of Fisheries products DESCRIPTION Volume (tones) Fish and fish produce 11,926 13,935 15,307 16,704 20,356 Crustaceans 5,412 5,620 5,211 4,173 3,332 Value (000SRD) Fish and fish produce 25,812 30,820 30,535 32,572 46,651 Crustaceans 69,603 61,648 64,502 40,612 35,283 Source: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES 3. NATIONAL FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY SITUATION 3.1 Overview Suriname s levels of poverty, food insecurity and inequality though improving, remain worrisome. These issues continue to be a major development concern despite the country s well-endowed natural resource base and good rainfall. Addressing the issue of food security in Suriname, subscribes to the 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) definition that all people at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. This definition embodies four major pillars: Availability; Accessibility; Utilization/Consumption; and Stability of the previous three components. The American Dietetic Association refers to Food security as the ability of individuals, households and communities to acquire appropriate and nutritious food on a regular and reliable basis, and using socially acceptable means. In a wider context, food and nutrition insecurity can therefore be described as not having sufficient food; experiencing hunger as a result of running out of food and being unable to afford more; or eating a poor quality diet as a result of limited food options. Food and nutrition insecurity is often experienced by persons who are socio-economically disadvantaged and or have low disposable incomes for examples the unemployed, low wage earners, and single mothers. People who are at a disadvantaged or have special needs as a result of disability, ill health or other physical or social factors, are also at risk of food insecurity.

40 28 The Government of Suriname has, in its National Development Plan, identified Food Security as one of the key priority initiatives. The Government is cognizant of the close interrelationship between poverty, income inequality, food, nutrition and health in national development. The White Paper on Agriculture, with its various sub-sector components, was therefore developed with the aim of helping the Government of Suriname achieve the overarching goal o creating a food secure nation. 3.2 Food Availability Food Availability relates to amounts of food available at the national level as a result of national food production, food imports and stocks or stores of food. Food availability is therefore linked to sustainable agricultural practices, including appropriate natural resources management and conservation, and enabling policies to enhance productivity. Food availability is also determined by trade and marketing policies and mechanisms that facilitate the importation of food. Figure 6 shows that Suriname s per capita value of agricultural production declined over the period , from a high of I$275 recorded in 1992 to a low of I$190 per person in The value of production was at its lowest of I$164 in 204. Relative to Latin America, Suriname s annual production values remained markedly lower than the values for that region. However, with respect to the Caribbean region, Suriname annual values were hugher than the regional averages between the period , but fell below the Caribbean s averages between , before annual per capita outputs rose marginally higher than those of the Caribbean, and continued into 2011.

41 29 Figure 6: Suriname Average Value of Production I$ per person Suriname Caribbean Latin America Based on data available from the FAOSTAT (Figure 7) the value of food imports increased dramatically from 1995 level of US$57.12 million, to US$ million in 2000, and to US$ million in Of the various components of the Food Import Bill, the largest categories by value in 2011 were: Cereals and Cereal Preparations; Livestock products (poultry meat and milk); Vegetables and Fruits; and Sugar and Sugar Preparations. Figure 7: Suriname Food Import Bill (US$M)

42 30 It is important to note that notwithstanding its vast agricultural resources, Suriname is classified as a Net Deficit Food Importing Country as demonstrated in Figure 8. The level of Figure 8: Suriname Imports vs Exports (1000 $) Agr Imports Agr Exports Suriname dependency on imported food is illustrated in Figure 9, which shows that the country s food dependence ratio increased from a level of 31.4 percent in 1995 to 63.8 percent by Figure 9: SurinameFood Dependance Ratio FAOSTAT, 2013 The Average Dietary Supply Adequacy is an indicator which expresses the Dietary Energy Supply (DES) as a percentage of the Average Dietary Energy Requirement (ADER) in the

43 31 country, to provide an index of adequacy of the food supply in terms of calories. Figure 10 presents per capita dietary energy supply for Suriname. Figure 10: Suriname Per Capita Supply of Calories kcal/capita/day As indicated in Figure 11, since 1990, Suriname s supply of calories exceeded the average daily requirement by 7% - 15%, with a steady upward rise in the oversupply of these calories from 2005 to the present time. Figure 11: Suriname Average Energy Supply Adequacy Suriname Caribbean The Food Production sector in Suriname is faced with a number of critical challenges, a number of which are long standing and complex. The four main constraints confronting the sector, as articulated by a myriad of industry stakeholders at various consultation fora coordinated in recent years are: High risk in food production and marketing, due primarily to:

44 32 o Adverse weather; o Praedial larceny; o Uncertain market conditions; o Limited use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs); o Health and safety concerns during production and processing; o Limited certification of firms achieving acceptable safety levels, given HACCP guidelines; and o Limited market research on the relative profitability and sustainability of proposed value chains; Uncertainty of availability of production inputs: o Lack of a harmonized Land Use Policy which will identify land earmarked for food production, and which will be legally bound to remain in this use over the long term; and o Limited skilled and unskilled labour availability to work at all levels of the value chain Low productivity, primarily due to: o Low levels of adaptation of improved/advanced techniques of food production and processing; o Low and uncoordinated research and development; o Low investment in labour-saving on-farm technologies; o Limited technical support; and o High post-harvest losses. Limited Institutional Coordination: o Limited sharing of the data and information among ministries has led to the development of policies and strategies within each ministry without the full oversight of a governing body ensuring that these policies and strategies are cohesive and explicitly lead to the enhancement of the nation s FNS goals; o Poor public-private partnerships; o Poorly managed and functioning Producer Organizations; and o Absent of or poorly coordinated institutional mechanism to facilitate inter-sectorial linkages (agriculture, environment, tourism, health, trade, education etc.) to effect.

45 Food Accessibility Overview Food Accessibility implies that households and individuals have resources to obtain supplies of food that are considered adequate and nutritious and that there are no physical barriers to accessing the food. Adequate availability of food, as is generally experienced in Suriname at the national level, does not therefore guarantee universal household access. The critical determinants of household access are physical infrastructure (mainly marketing and storage), purchasing power, the ability to generate income from various productive activities and the level of food prices. The income available to an individual or household together with the supporting livelihood systems and strategies, are therefore essential factors in determining access to food Physical Access The physical access to food in Suriname can be considered to be favourable, particularly, in the coastal areas and non-disaster situations. There are several large supermarkets and hundreds of small supermarkets and veggie-marts that carry a variety of dry goods and fresh produce. These smaller outlets exist in almost all communities in the urban areas, via walking or driving. For the local marketing of fresh produce to the consumer, wholesale markets, such as the Central Market in Paramaribo, but also other wholesale markets in residential areas and several Sunday markets in the different production areas play an important role. Physical access to food for residence in the in the interior is must more difficult Economic Access A number of socio-economic factors impact the access of the population of Suriname to adequate and nutritious foods. These include: High price of food; Poverty related to: o Lack of access to productive resources including land and capital and undernourishment; and o High unemployment rate, especially among women and youth Ineffective safety nets programs, linked to inadequate monitoring and evaluation of programs; and Lack of basic services.

46 34 PRICE FACTORS THAT AFFECT ACCESS Even if food is available, the ability to utilize it hinges on the individual and household ability to purchase food or obtain food in the form of gifts, aid or through transfer programs. Since Suriname is a small, open economy, it is a price take for imported and exported food commodities. Therefore, the border price of food is significantly affected by global forces of market demand and supply, which ultimately affects the world price of agricultural commodities. Prior to 2007, world food prices were relatively flat, and in some cases, the real price of food was falling and expected to fall over time. However, with the onset of the global financial crisis in 2007, the FAO Annual Real Food Price Index increased by 19.5% over its 2006 value, to (see Figure 12). Thereafter, prices rose even further in 2008, fell to just below 2007 prices in 2009, but by 2011, the Real Food Price Index surpassed 2008 levels, at 169.9, which represents an increase of 50.8% over 2006 values. Since 2011, the Real Food Price index remained at just under 2011 values (FAO 2014a). Figure 12: The FAO Annual Real Food Price Index ( =100) Source: FAO (2014a) The FAO Food Price Index comprises five key commodities: Sugar, Meats, Oils, Cerals and Dairy (Figure 13). Of these commodities, Sugar experienced the highest annual average Index from , followed by Dairy. From January to July 2014, the Real Food Price Index remained relatively unchanged, with a 0.4% rise. However, over this period, the Sugar Price Index and the Meat Price Index rose by 16.9% and 12.4%, respectively, while prices for Dairy, Cereals and Oils fell 15.5%, 3.2% and 4.0%, respectively (FAO 2014a).

47 35 Meat Price Index Cereals Price Index Sugar Price Index Dairy Price Index Oils Price Index Figure 13: Components of the FAO Annual Real Food Price Index, (August) Source: FAO (2014a) For the 2014/2015 season, there are improved production prospects for coarse grains and wheat crops, particularly in the United States, the EU and India, as production and supply are slightly higher than the previous season [FAO 2014b]. There is also a general expectation that the high volatility of food prices will continue in the foreseeable future. For the average for 2014 (January July), relative to 2003, when all the components of the Food Price index were similar (base, = 100), Sugar prices almost doubled (an increase of 83.8%), Dairy prices increased by 96.2% and the price of Cereals, Meats and Oils rose significantly by 49.8%, 48.7% and 43.2%, respectively. There was an overall increase in the index of 58.9% over the same time period. In Suriname, the purchasing power of the local currency declined sharply as a result of high inflation rates. Inflation Rate in Suriname averaged percent from 1969 until 2015, reaching an all time high of percent in December of 1994 and a record low of percent in June of The inflation rate in Suriname was recorded at 2.30 percent in January of Food Inflation in Suriname averaged 8.11 percent from 2010 until 2015, reaching an all time high of percent in April of 2011 and a record low of percent in December of Food Inflation in Suriname decreased to 7.77 percent in January of 2015 from 8.65 percent in December of 2014.The local Food Inflation Rate appears to be very disconnected from the Global Food Price Index, since it remained very high even when global prices declined. The increase in and high food prices has impacted the ability of households to purchase food for balanced diets. The dependence on imported foods has meant that food costs in Suriname have continued to rise, impacting household access to food. Another contributor to the high, and increasing,

48 36 food prices is that for some commodities, for which there is a monopoly distributor, or for which there are only a few distributors, prices are set higher than they would be under a purely competitive market scenario. Weak monopoly legislation allows this problem to persist. Poverty Poverty is a major determinant of chronic food insecurity. The poor generally do not have adequate means to gain access to food of the quantity and quality required for a healthy life. As mentioned earlier, Suriname has emerged as one of Caribbean s best performing economies over the last decade, due largely to its rich endowment of natural resources and biodiversity. However, Suriname s levels of poverty and inequality though improving, remain worrisome. The country ranked 100 out of 187 countries in the UNDP s 2014 Human Development Index. There are also significant inequalities between coastal areas, generally more affluent, and the rural interior. According to the World Bank, in 2013 Suriname s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in US Dollars was $9, 0. The Gini Index was 52.9 in 2001.The unemployment rate in 2013 was estimated at 7.8 percent, with youth unemployment put at 22.5 percent. Despite the rapid expansion of the economy over the past decade, Poverty Reduction and Human Capital Development are still considered to be key priority areas for focus as is seen in the National Development Plan ( ) and Country Partnership Strategy ( ). Based on FAO estimates, the level of poverty in Suriname in2012 was 31.0 percent. Poverty rates in the main districts (with 70 percent of the population) were as follows: Paramaribo 27 percent; Wanica 27 percent; and Nickerie 36 percent The 2010 United Nations Human Development Report (HDR) introduced the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which identifies multiple deprivations in the same households in education, health and standard of living. The education and health dimensions are based on two indicators each while the standard of living dimension is based on six indicators. All of the indicators needed to construct the MPI for a household are taken from the same household survey. The indicators are weighted, and the deprivation scores are computed for each household in the survey. A cut-off of 33.3 percent, which is the equivalent of one-third of the weighted indicators, is used to distinguish between the poor and non-poor. If the household deprivation score is

49 33.3 percent or greater, that household (and everyone in it) is multi-dimensionally poor. Households with a deprivation score greater than or equal to 20 percent but less than 33.3 percent are vulnerable to or at risk of becoming multi-dimensionally poor. The most recent survey data available for estimating MPI figures for Suriname were collected in Results obtained based on the analysis of that data, show that 8.2 percent of the Suriname population lived in multidimensional poverty (the MPI head count ) while an additional 6.7 percent were vulnerable to multiple deprivations. The intensity of deprivation that is, the average percentage of deprivation experienced by people living in multidimensional poverty in Suriname was 47.2 percent. The country s MPI value, which is the share of the population that is multi-dimensionally poor, adjusted by the intensity of the deprivations, was Guyana and Belize had MPI values of 0.03 and respectively. The percentage of Suriname s population that live in severe poverty (deprivation score is 50 percent or more) and that are vulnerable to poverty (deprivation score between 20 and 30 percent) is shown in the table below. The contributions of deprivations in each dimension to overall poverty complete a comprehensive picture of people living in poverty in Suriname. Figures for Guyana and Belize are also shown in the Table 9 for comparison. Table 9: The MPI figures for Suriname relative to selected countries DESRCIPTION SURINAME GUYANA BELIZE Survey year MPI value Headcount (%) Intensity of deprivation (%) Population Vulnerability to poverty(%) In severe poverty(%) Below income poverty line (%) Contribution to overall poverty deprivation in: Health Education Living standards Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2013 Deprivation in basic services health, education and living standards contribute to overall poverty. Deprivation of housing and electricity should also be indexed. 37

50 Undernourishment An issue that is closely related to poverty is undernourishment. This measure is the proportion of the population estimated to be at risk of caloric inadequacy (Figure 14 below). Suriname reduced the level of undernourishment significantly, from 10.9 percent in 2008 to 8.4 percent in Figure 14: Suriname Prevalence of Undernourishment % Source: FAO 2013d Social Safety Net Programs Suriname has an extensive social protection system, consists of both targeted and untargeted transfer programs, including a cash transfer program for poor households, child allowances, disability grants, school supply grants, and health care services to the poor. The wide range of programmes are spread across four main ministries: Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing Ministry of Health Ministry of Education Ministry of Labour The largest programs are executed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing (MSAPH), with the target groups being indigent people, people with disabilities, senior citizens, children and youth. The social assistance provided includes cash transfer, goods 38

51 and services. The programs administered by the Directorate of Social Affairs fall under two categories: Material Services (Table 10) Immaterial Services (Table 11) Table 10: Material Services and Targets Material Services Financial Assistance Poor households Targeting Medical assistance card (Free medical provision) Poor and near-poor households Child allowance Households not receiving child allowance from their employers Old age pension Citizens =or> 60 years of age Subsidies to social institutions Social institutions School supplies (uniforms, educational tools) Poor households with children visiting primary schools Table 11: Immaterial Services and Targets Immaterial Services Targeting Daycare centers Working mothers with children between 0-6 years of age Food for kids Children in daycare Center for the elderly Poor or near-poor senior citizens (= or > 60 years) Center for boys with behavioral problems Boys (8-16 years) with behavioral problems Care for persons with disability takers of people People with disabilities and caregivers with disabilities Youth care Youth (0-24 years) with social problems 39

52 Elderly care Indigent senior citizens (= or > 60 years) Community Development Communities in need General Social Work People and families in need Family coaching Indigent single mothers Child Help Line Children, youth, adolescent < 25 years The Directorate of Housing is responsible for the administration of social policy within the multi-annual Housing program. This program primarily establishes facilities to stimulate public-private partnerships to improve the nation s quantity and quality of housing and provides through various house building programs that all income categories, especially its indigent communities can have stable housing. The services /programs and the targeting under the Directorate of housing are presented in Table 12. Table 12: Directorate of Housing Services/Programs and Targets Services/programs Surface development company All households Targeting Social Housing Low income households Low Income Shelter Program Low /moderate income households Low middle Income Shelter Program Low middle income households Project Tout Lui Faut (Chinese Government) Low income households Urban Development Project Richelieu All income categories Project Tout Lui Faut Social housing Low income households Project District Coronie Social Low income households 40

53 housing The range social programs under the Ministry of Education are presented in Table 13. Table 13: Ministry of Education Social Programs Services/programs School bursaries: Cash grant for indigent high school and college students to finish high school and complete a university education. School transportation subsidy: Transportation for school children from remote areas to visit schools. Targeting Students from indigent households School children from indigent households and remote areas Project for Teenage mothers: Counseling and training project to finish school education. Teenage mothers between the age of years. School feeding project for primary schools: Distribution of lunch meals to school children. School children from indigent households attending primary schools The social programs under the Ministries of Labor, Health and Regional Development are presented in Table 14. Table 14: Social Programs of other relevant Ministries Social Services/programs Targeting Ministry of Labor Foundation for Labor School drop outs (= or >16 years) 41

54 Mobilization and Development: Central training center concentrated on vocational training in order to create employment Stichting Productieve Werkeenheden: Training center concentrated on specific skills for managing small businesses. Small business Ministry of Health Regional Health Center: Primary Medical card beneficiaries of the MSAPH and secondary medical care. Immunization program: Vaccination of infants and school children. All infants and school children. HIV/Aids testing and medication: free of charge testing for HIV/Aids All citizen Ministry of Regional Development Foundation Fund for the Communities of indigenous people Development of the Interior (Dutch Finances) o Stimulation of productive activities and activities aimed at improving the living conditions of the community o Organizational strengthening of the government and NGOs that have a direct or indirect supporting role. 42

55 43 There are some additional measures that have been taken by the government of Suriname to support vulnerable groups in the society, including: NCCR: National disaster team; e.g. coordinates aid in the interior during floods: Ant-plagues which destroy crops of indigenous communities; Subsidies for farmers; Subsidies for the rice industry; and Subsidies for public transportation. These programs are administered by multiple ministries and agencies which can benefit from improved coordination of safety net priorities. NGOs have been playing an increasing important role in poverty alleviation in Suriname though there are still deficiencies in effective program implementation by many groups. The lack of coordination has caused duplication of efforts and missed opportunities for economies of scale. Additional weaknesses of these programs identified, include: Poor targeting mechanisms; Weak infrastructure and capacity; Lack of legislative support for the social programs; and Poor exit strategies. In summary, the social protection programs, as currently designed, are not effectively achieving the government s objective of protecting the poor as they are either poorly targeted or too small in the coverage or in the size of the cash transfer. In addition, they are not sufficiently focused on promoting human capital development of the next generation as they are skewed toward the elderly. In 2011, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a loan of US$15 million for Social Safety Net Reform Program in Suriname. This was based on the recognition, that the social protection programs, as currently designed, were not effectively achieving the government s objective of protecting the poor as they were either poorly targeted or too small in the coverage or in the size of the cash transfer. In addition, they were not sufficiently focused on promoting human capital development of the next generation as they were skewed toward the elderly. The project under the loan, was aimed at improving effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and accountability of the country s social safety net programs through the: Consolidation of existing cash transfer programs and their reconfiguration into a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program; Reform of cash grants provided by Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development (MPSD);

56 44 Strengthening of the institutional capacity of MOSAPH to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate targeted non-contributory social protection programs; and Strengthening locally the supply of social services (health and education) in order to meet additional demand. A key goal is to improve the efficiency of the targeting of low-income households so as to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty through the development of the human capital of children. The IDB loan of $15 million is for a term of 20 years, with an interest rate based on Libor. It has a grace period of 5 years, and a disbursement period of 5 years. It has four (4) components as follows: Component 1: This component will strengthen non contributory social protection programs to improve the effectiveness of spending on those programs. generated through the CCT. This component will finance: institutional strengthening; technical assistance to implement the CCT; development of a MIS that will incorporate all the CCT modules; dissemination and public awareness activities; limited amount of rehabilitation of MOSAPH central and district offices; development and implementation of mechanisms for determination of disability consistent with international standards and practice; and an assessment of MOSAPH social care services and development of an action plan for strengthening social care services. Component II: will finance the grants to be provided to beneficiaries as part of the CCT. Component III: Strengthening Health and Education Services to reduce supply-side constraints that can hinder compliance with program conditions. Component IV: Monitoring and Evaluation - strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing to more effectively and efficiently plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate targeted non-contributory social protection programs, such as CCT. ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES: WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE According to the UNDP Suriname 5, 96.5 percent of the population of Paramaribo and 90 percent of the population throughout the coastal area of the country have access to improved water and sanitation facilities. In the interior only 45 per cent of households use improved drinking water sources, 33 percent use sanitary means of excreta disposal, and only 24 percent of households use both. Seventy-eight percent of households in the interior do not treat the water that they collect and only 10 percent use an appropriate form of 5 UNDP Suriname: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

57 45 treatment. Only 26 percent of households have water available on the premises, while most households have to walk an average 21 minutes to get to the source to collect water an activity that is to 80 percent done by women. Over half of the population in the interior has no means of excreta disposal; most excreta go straight into the rivers and creeks which at the same time serve as the main water supply. In Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, the main source of drinking water for 54.2 percent of the households is surface water (river and ponds), which is generally considered an unsafe source. Overall 22.6 percent of households use an appropriate water treatment method, with percentages being lowest for Brokopondo and Sipaliwini (11.2 percent). Notwithstanding the current situation, there are several ongoing planned initiatives aimed at improving the water, sanitation and hygiene situation in Suriname. UNICEF and PAHO/WHO are supporting national partners in formulating and implementing programmes for improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene in targeted vulnerable communities. This includes support for the objective to reach 85 percent access by 2015 and 95 percent access to safe drinking water by 2024 for the interior of Suriname as mentioned in the Development Plan of the Government. Specific interventions to target the most vulnerable populations are implemented by the UNICEF Water and Sanitation Programme together with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Regional Development to improve sustainable access to safe drinking water and increase the use of appropriate sanitation facilities in the interior of Suriname. The programme is being executed in 16 communities along the Suriname, Cottica, Tapanahony Rivers in partnership with Peace Corps Suriname 6. The initiative supports these communities to have an increased participation and ownership in the decision making to demand the fulfilment of their rights to safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation. In future endeavours the lessons learned from this initiative will serve other programme areas in the interior of the country. 3.4 Food Utilization Overview Food Utilization relates to the supply of adequate nutrition through wholesome, healthy and diverse food choices, adherence to appropriate and acceptable food quality and safety standards, increasing diversity in diets, as well as basic principles of nutrition and proper child care. 6 Peace Corps Phased Out its Program in Suriname July 2013

58 46 The Government of Suriname is cognizant of the importance of the nutritional status and health of its population to the development of a progressive and socio-economically stable country. A healthy population has a greater capacity for learning, higher productivity and more socially acceptable behavior. Thus, the development of a healthy population is a major developmental goal for the Government of Suriname. Food Utilization in Suriname, is affected by a number of factors that can be categorized as related to: food quality; food choices; childcare practices; and lifestyle practices. Food quality and safety Inadequate application of food safety standards; Insufficient education and training on acceptable food safety practices; Inefficiencies in the implementation of required phytosanitary and sanitary measures; in the food production process. Food Choices Insufficient education on food choices and food preparation methods; High price of healthy foods; High sugar and fat content of diets; Relatively low fruit and vegetable consumption Adoption of other cultural food choices. Child care Practices Inadequate child care and breast feeding practices; Working mothers- limited time); Complementary feeding introduced too early; Lifestyle Practices General pattern of a sedentary life style with limited or no exercise regime; Relatively high levels of overweight and obesity; and Alcohol abuse Food Quality and Safety Food analysis and food quality control systems ensure that processed and marketed foods are of good quality and are safe from chemical residues, adulteration and other possible sources of contamination. They also ensure the quality and safety of micro-nutrient-rich foods on the market, especially foods fortified with one or more micro-nutrients.

59 47 The food quality and safety situation in Suriname is characterized in general (with the exception of the fisheries sector) by: ex-post inspection of the safety of food 7. Only in case of complaints or calamities did inspections take place, to verify whether food products meet the norms and standards. Thus only when the product has already left the plant or the farm, such products were or are assessed by public bodies on their microbiological, toxicological and physico-chemical qualities; eateries and restaurants are only subjected to (mostly superficial) inspection when complaints have been received; Producers who have a quality control laboratory subject their products to minimal tests to ascertain whether they meet a number of commodities requirements; hence, in Suriname, water companies, rice companies, oil palm companies, the milk plant test their products for a number of specific quality criteria. But producers cannot test their final products for pesticides or fuel oil (mention residues in general and more in particular the example of paddy rice) (paddy is most often dried with hot air heated by burning heavy fuel oil) and thus it happened that at times a batch of rice was rejected abroad on the basis of fuel oil residue. Fresh products of agricultural origins were and are often not inspected to verify compliance with quality and health criteria, such as the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms and residues of pesticides or residues of veterinary drugs such as antibiotics. Neither upon export nor when sold on the local market and this is not in the interest of the public health. This may have detrimental effects on public health. Example: resistance of pathogens in humans against certain medicines as a result of frequent exposure to residues of antibiotics. In general production facilities are subjected to inspections and checks only in the event of complaints and calamities; Public services responsible for inspection and monitoring often work in an uncoordinated fashion and according to their own policy; coherence and synergy are therefore lacking in this inspection and monitoring system. A SWOT analysis of the agricultural health and food safety situation in Suriname was conducted as part of the process in the preparation of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries White Paper on Agricultural Health and Food Safety. The findings from the analysis are presented as strengths and weaknesses (Table 15) and opportunities and threats (Table 16). Harmonized standards continue to be a major challenge for the Suriname crop, vegetable, livestock and fish sub-sectors. Further, emerging international trading arrangements and agreements, largely associated with global trade liberalization, require the adoption of different approaches to generate new opportunities or to provide competitive advantage through the establishment of standards which conform to international norms. It has 7 Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries White Paper on Agricultural Health and food Safety

60 48 therefore, become a major requirement that locally produced and imported goods conform to regulations and acceptable standards. The number of standards and regulations however, is constantly increasing in most countries because of the expansion in volume, variety and technical sophistication of products manufactured and traded. Effective national food control systems, benchmarked with internationally accepted food safety standards, are essential for protecting the health and food safety of consumers. These systems are critical in enabling the country to assure the safety and quality of their foods entering international trade and to ensure that imported foods conform to national requirements. The new global environment for food trade places considerable obligations on both importing and exporting countries to strengthen their food control systems and to implement and enforce risk-based food control strategies. In most Caribbean countries, (including Suriname) effective agricultural health and food safety control measures are undermined by the existence of fragmented legislation, multiple jurisdictions, and weaknesses in surveillance, monitoring and enforcement. Confidence in the safety and integrity of the food supply is an important requirement for consumers. Hence, food safety standards for compliance and prevention, such as the WTO Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS), the CODEX Alimentarius, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) have emerged as the signature of approval to assure consumers of safe, good quality food. Table 15: Strengths and Weaknesses of Agricultural Health and Food Safety System Strengths Agricultural Health and Food Safety Bill is ready The Ministry has the necessary knowledge and experience regarding agricultural health and food safety VKI is already operational Food safety legislation is present relating to fishery products The VKI is a financially autonomous agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and therefore has its own budget for implementing its tasks as described in the Fish Inspection Act The VKI has the necessary knowledge and experience regarding food safety in the fisheries sector The VKI is supported by the entire fisheries sector The registration of farmers has been concluded Experience in establishing the laboratory for agricultural health and food safety Laboratory personnel are already trained in the ISO standard GAP is already applied by farmers whose production is intended for Weaknesses Inadequate internal communication Too few highly educated staff High workload for senior staff, among other things on account of work for other departments as a result of which the performance of core tasks comes under pressure Insufficient financial means available to realize the goals set Lack of analytical facilities (although there is a veterinary diagnostic laboratory (VDL), the building is not adequate, there is a lack of consumables and stagnation in government payment system. Though not completely lacking, however) Lack of specific laws (ministerial orders) Limited monitoring of diseases and pests Lack of working facilities (border posts) The current facilities limit the performance of the tasks of the plant protection department The plant protection department does not have at its disposal

61 49 export. Training courses in recognizing diseases and pests, and safe use of pesticides Encouraging IPM Adequate survey and monitoring of diseases and pests in agricultural crops (fruit fly, BSD, mango seed weevil, cotton seed bug, tomato borer) The first national animal diseases survey is already underway The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture disposes of a draft emergency plan in the event of an outbreak of infectious animal diseases in Suriname The Veterinary and Plant Protection Departments are represented in the Port Health Commission, which is conducive to cooperation with other relevant agencies. (the animal husbandry underdirectorate (ODVee) shortly will conduct import inspection of animals and animal products at the Johan Adolph Pengel International Airport) Recent institutional strengthening of the Veterinary Department (upgrading of personnel, improvement of mobility) Continuously improving cooperation with other ministries (e.g.: outsourcing of laboratory tests to and exchanging information with the Ministry of Public Health, cooperation with the Nature Conservation department of the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Land and Forest Management (ROGB) for port health and wildlife disease surveillance) the required staff and equipment to carry out all analyses in accordance with the requirements set Entrepreneurship insufficiently developed Level of mechanization underdeveloped Shifting cultivation system no longer meets current conditions The status of many animal diseases, which is important for export and public health purposes, is unknown No animal disease notification is given to relevant international organisations Disease monitoring system for farmed animals and wildlife not adequate. There is only passive surveillance, and there is often no final diagnosis as as result of the inadequate functioning of the VDL Current lack of and expected further decrease (ageing) of the number of veterinarians, Animal Health Assistants and inspectors (food safety inspectors and animal health supervisors of ODVee) The current facilities limit the execution of the tasks of the VKI. The analytical facilities are limited as a result of which certain analyses need to be outsourced. VKI does not have all equipment to carry out analyses in accordance with the Fish Inspection Act and its regulations Because of the fire, some essential training courses were cancelled. Table 16: Opportunities and Threats of Agricultural Health and Food Safety System Opportunities Political preference for food safety Growing consumer awareness Guaranteed exports to the EU and other countries Further certification increases opportunities for stakeholders on domestic and international markets Guarantee of food safety Growing stakeholder awareness as regards safe production of agricultural produce (animal, plant, and fish) Adequate monitoring of compliance with legal requirements Threats Trend towards more chemical pest control to prevent diseases and pests in the agricultural sector Insufficient highly educated personnel Increasingly strict international requirements regarding food safety Possible effects of climate change Lack of knowledge among livestock farmers regarding waiting periods of veterinary medicines and pesticides Sale of veterinary medicines and pesticides not regulated Open borders with neighbouring countries

62 50 Export possibilities for organically grown products Increased sales resulting from certification of farms Upgrading of production systems according to WTO/SPS requirements and international standards GAP already known, needs to be further developed into certification (GlobalGAP) mproved food safety means also boost for tourism sector. Decline of traditional processing techniques where guidance and monitoring are lacking (fish smoking) Emergency preparedness plan never tested by means of simulation exercise Illegal import of animals and animal products, and plants and vegetable products No poultry inspection (slaughterhouses) by LVV inspectors (no legal obligation) Lack of quarantine facilities for imported animals and plants No microbial and residual analyses for local and imported animal and vegetable products (no legal obligation) Occurrence of locations where habitats of humans, livestock and wildlife overlap The Government of Suriname is currently pursuing the establishment of agricultural health and food safety system that a system that focuses on preventing the presence of unsafe food in the logistics and distribution chain, so that unsafe food will not reach the consumer, by: establishing mandatory requirements for production facilities; linking production methods and production management to appropriate and unequivocal requirements; and providing for coherent inspection so that compliance with legal requirements is monitored from a central entity Nutrition and NCDs It should be noted that, Suriname has a fairly high prevalence, morbidity and mortality rates for chronic non-communicable diseases (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer), and these rates have been steadily increasing over time. Evidences suggest that chronic non communicable diseases are life-style related, and linked by common risk factors, which includes poor nutrition (in particular the use of unhealthy food) and physical inactivity. Poor nutrition is further complicated by deficiencies of micronutrients- iodine, vitamin A, iron, zinc, and folic acid, particularly among children.

63 51 Figure 15 presents the levels of obesity for males and females in Suriname. It is recognized that Obesity is very complex. Suriname, Figure 15: Suriname: Obesity prevalence (BMI Females, 30 kg/m²) 25.4 Suriname, Males, 11.3 WHO, 2010 The MDG report 2009 shows that the prevalence of underweight children under-five years of age (weight for height for age) decreased from 6.5% in 2000 to 4.9 % in The proportion of 1 year-old children immunized against measles grew from 71.1 % in 2000 to 85.7 % in Infant mortality (<5 years) is estimated at 20.8 per 1,000. Micronutrient deficiency data is not reported regularly. However, nutritional deficiencies (such as protein-energy malnutrition, iron, Vitamin A, and iodine deficiency) which may result from poor child nutrition practices, often have an adverse effect on school participation and learning. Figure 16 presents data on Per capita expenditures on health, including externally funded expenditure on health, for the period 1995 to The Figure shows an upward trend in per capita expenditure during the review period.