PARAMARIBO – The  Belangengroep Padieverbouwers Nickerie recently asked the government for permission to import chemicals and fertilizers on its own. It also asked the government to let them import the things that they need for agriculture duty-free.

The spokesman of the Belangengroep Padieboeren Nickerie, Ashwin Jagmohansingh, explained that if the group starts importing chemicals and fertilizers the production costs would drop significantly. He made it clear that additional costs must be paid when others import these things, which is why the rice farmers hardly make a profit. The Belangengroep Padieboeren Nickerie is a young organization with many members, who have the potential to import everything that they need on their own. The organization strongly believes that it could lift the rice sector to a higher level and that it could also save the nation’s rice sector….[+]