For this blogpost I was asked to explain why I chose the course reading that I have selected for the students after giving my guest lecture and what the students should take from it.
As an international graduate student from Suriname I met many Canadian and other international people here in Canada. Eight of the ten people I met do not know about my country, which is not really surprising for me. By choosing a paper for the students I wanted to share some background information about my country too.
The paper I have chosen for the students gives a good overview not only about the small scale farming systems but also the general diversity of culture, religion and language in my country. The three districts, Paramaribo (capital), Saramacca and Commewijne are unique for its own historical background and as given on the map in the paper you can see that these districts are located on the coastal part of the country. Due to the poor soil conditions and forestry in Sipaliwini, a district on the interior that as a result participates in very little agriculture.
The paper covers the three pillars of sustainable agriculture which I mentioned in my guest lecture. Aspects of economic contribution of farming, social equity and environmental factors, the farmers are dealing in Suriname are presented well. The study gives a better understanding of the status and challenges the farmers are dealing with when they are producing food for both the local and international markets.
Studies show that many people are suffering from chronic hunger and prices of food are increasing. Recent debates of policy makers, scientists and professionals are going about new approaches to improve agriculture and food security with sustainable environmentally and socially farming practices.
In my opinion most of the problems mentioned by the farmers in the paper can be reduced with application of innovation, knowledge and new technology. The small scale farmers should bring agrodiversity in their production systems. With a diverse production system the farmers can increase their yearly income.
Use of high yielding crop varieties, machines, chemicals are the key aspects of conventional agriculture. At the other hand agrodiversity and food security are sustainable farming approaches that generate multiple benefits for small farmers. Policy makers and scientists should take the traditional knowledge of farmers to create technology that is adaptive for the farmers. Agrodiversity is about cultivation of different crops at small scale level in order to ensure sustainable agriculture with high biodiversity and environmental sustainability, which refers to prevent soil erosion and land degradation. Agrodiversity can also be done in combination of livestock, fishery and forestry. Food sovereignty is about healthy produced food and institutionalization of adding value to food. Innovation in current governance institutions is required. To make progress government, businesses, scientists, and development actors must collaborate to improve the production of food and ensure safe and healthy food and environment in Suriname.
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 