Suriname's Main Agricultural Product: Rice

Rice is Suriname's dominant agricultural staple — both the primary crop by area/production and the dietary foundation.

Key Facts

• Production: ~180,000–220,000 metric tons/year (paddy). Two seasons (spring/autumn).
• Region: Coastal plain (Nickerwie, Coronie, Saramacca, Wanica) — irrigated polders from Suriname River & canals.
• Varieties: Improved semi-dwarf (e.g., 'Raison', 'M5', 'IR' lines).
• Consumption: ~45–50 kg/capita/year. Eaten daily (often twice) — "rice and beans" (rijst met bonen) is national dish.
• Export: Modest (Caribbean, EU); most consumed domestically.

Other Notable Products

• Bananas/Plantains: Major export (historically to EU via preferential quotas).
• Shrimp/Aquaculture: Growing export (seabob, whiteleg).
• Citrus, Coconuts, Vegetables, Heart of Palm: Domestic & regional markets.
• Timber: Selective logging (greenheart, purpleheart) — high value, sustainability concerns.

Rice anchors food security, rural employment, and land use in coastal Suriname. Modernization (mechanization, precision ag, value-added processing) is a policy priority.