Suriname eyes Indian experts to gain rice varieties

Varanasi, Nov 2 (UNI) The Suriname Ambassador to India Krishna Dutt Baijnath today said the northern shore country of South America was keen at working with Indian agro scientists to gain rice varieties which support mechanised farming.

Interacting with newspersons here this evening, Mr Baijnath said the big pool of agro scientists in India could be of great help to Suriname looking for rice varieties that can be grown through mechanised farming.

In Suriname, there were large agricultural farms where farmers prefered growing rice, the staple foodgrain in the country with a 4.31 lakh population and a GDP growth rate of 5.1 per cent. ''We urgently require rice varieties which can be grown through mechanised farming and Indian scientists can be of great help in developing such varieties for us,'' he added.

''Even if Indian experts cannot provide us with mechanised farming compatible rice varieties, they can help us grow other crops which support mechanised agriculture,'' he added.

Mr Baijnath, speaking on possible economic tie-ups between India and Suriname, said agro-industry, pharmaceuticals, information processing, wood products, textiles and garments, mining and mineral processing, eco-tourism and hotel development are the areas where prospective joint ventures beween the two nations were possible.

He further said that by investing in Suriname, Indian entrepreneurs would have access to 15-nation strong Caribbean Community (CARICOM), besides expanding their presence in neighbouring Venenzuela and Cuba.

Terming 2003 as a landmark year in Indo-Surinamese ties, Mr Baijnath said that Suriname president Ronaldo Ronald Venetiaan visited India in March 2003. A string of pacts were signed between the two countries including MOUs in agriculture, cashew cultivation and also acquaculture. A pact paving way to a cultural exchange programme was also signed between the two countries, he added.

A trade delegation from Suriname will visit India early next year to explore further prospects of economic cooperation.

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