SPBA considers ‘joint venture’ with India

India’s ambassador to Suriname, Mahendar Singh Kanyal, on Sunday met with the union officials and members of the Surinamese Rice Farmers Association (SPBA) in the conference room of the Overliggend Waterschap Multipurpose Corantijn Project (OWMCP). Reports indicate that the SPBA decided to invite the ambassador to a meeting after its chairman had a talk with the diplomat at the embassy in Paramaribo.

After the meeting SPBA chairman Harrynandan Oemraw told reporters that his organization had presented certain matters to the ambassador and that they also discussed the possibility of a joint venture with India. “There is already collaboration at government level but we as organization also wanted a collaboration because India has many agrarian experts and because its technology is farmore advanced than Suriname’s,” said Oemraw who added that the SPBA also asked the ambassador for support with certain wishes. One of the main wishes of the union is the establishment of a grinding mill with a drying facility and storage room. Oemraw pointed out that the meeting was fruitful and that

he has high hopes.

The chairman of the SPBA added, however, that he does not expect the ambassador to actualize everything that his organization has asked but that he does expect a few requests to be granted. Oemraw explained that farmers do not have a grinding mill and that they are repeatedly being exploited by the buyers who want to determine their own price for the rice paddy.

Ambassador Kanyal pointed out that he had good talks with the rice farmers association and that he would consider all options aimed at strenghtening the bilateral collaboration. He explained that there is also the possibility of discussing the wishes and grievances of the rice farmers with the government. The ambassador also held talks with a group of students whose ancestors are from India to inform them about the scholarships that will be provided by India and the education opportunities in India. August Lila, director at the OWMCP, and Nareen Gajadin, director at the Anne van Dijk Rice Research Center, also gave the ambassador a power point presentation about the tasks of these agencies.