Suriname: Agricultural investment alternatives to oil palm

Abstract

The main objective is to identify potential crops and livestock alternatives to replace oil palm on the oldest state-owned plantation in Suriname: Victoria. The report is divided into five chapters and seven annexes that contain information on the oil palm sector and investment alternatives for Victoria. Chapter I provides a background to the Suriname economy and its agricultural sector. Chapter II discusses the oil palm sub-sector, including the institutional structure, economic aspects of production, public policy towards the sector and development constraints. Chapter III identifies, evaluates and estimates the costs and returns of potential alternative crops and livestock activities for the Victoria Plantation. It also discusses several policy and institutional factors that could effect the choice of alternatives. Chapter IV presents a strategy for implementing the suggested alternatives, and Chapter V provides a summary and the conclusions of the study.