Suriname Quality Fruits & Vegetable PACKINGHOUSE VEAPS Vereniging Exporteurs Agrarische Produkten Suriname

Description of the Initiative Suriname Quality Fruits & Vegetables Packing House Establish a fruit and vegetable packing house oriented to exporting quality produce from Suriname to EU and Caribbean.

Strategic Importance of the Packinghouse Reduce costs, become export competitive Increase reliable production in volume and quality Guarantee food safety Move to more sustainable production practices (comply with Global Gap) Reduce bureaucracy and handling inefficiencies, particularly at the airport

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE IMPROVE QUALITY CHEMICAL DAMAGE MECHANICAL DAMAGED FRUIT PACKINGHOUSE DISORDER NO EFFICIENCY

IMPROVED OPERATIONS & HANDLING POLYTHENE CRATES used to collect the products IMPROVED SORTING & WASHING TABLES SIZING RINGS

EFFICIENT HANDLING & PACKAGING SYSTEMS Mechanised forklifttruck

GLOBAL GAP COMPLIANT Vegetable & Fruit washing/drying stations Drying units

PACKINGHOUSE SCHEME –stakeholders

ACTIONS TO CARRY OUT STEP-BY-STEP PLAN (WHAT, WHO, WHEN) Activity Responsible Date Initial Support for Packinghouse concept (MinAg, SBF, VEAPS, Governor of Central Bank) Umar Taus, Riekhnath Sanchit Completed (2007-12) Develop Terms of Reference for Packinghouse feasibility and business plan Taus, Sanchit, Algoe 30 June 2012 Tender for Consultancy for Business Plan and Design of Packinghouse & funding request proposals 15 July 2012 Overseeing consultancy conducting study Aug-Oct 2012 Presentation & Dialogue with Food and Product Authority (VWA) in Holland Sept 2012 Outreach events to present business plan to stakeholders MAAHF (Extension) 1-31 Nov 2012 Submit proposals and secure financing for funding Taus, Sanchit, Algoe, SBC Nov-Dec 2012 Initiate construction of Packinghouse Feb 2013 Initiate operations of Packinghouse Jan 2014 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Resources Needed Investment Funding for the Packing House RESOURCE (financial and other e.g., facilities, services, etc.) Estimated Cost Possible Sources Hire consultant to prepare tender US$10,000 MinAg (LVV) Consultancy for feasibility, business plan, funding requests US$50,000 Outreach Events US$7,500 Investment Funding for the Packing House Land - Building, land reclamation Equipment & supplies Operating Costs (first 3 yrs, $200,000/year) Contingencies (5%) Granted by GoS US$2,000,000 US$600,000 US$200,000 Loan Financing from NOB, IDB, exporters (VEAPS), equipment producers (India/China), others Total Investment Required US$4,802,500

PRODUCTS/ RESULTS MEASURES OF SUCCESS Feasibility Study/Business Plan/Packinghouse design/Funding proposals 31 October 2012 Financing secured 31 December 2012 Initiate construction of Packinghouse February 2013 Initiate operations of Packinghouse January 2014

LEADERSHIP INFLUENCE LEADERS (“Trekker”) TECHNICAL LEADER(s) Soeresh Algoe, Deputy Dir., MAAHF Umar Taus, President, VEAPS Riekhnath Sanchit, Secretary, VEAPS TECHNICAL LEADER(s) Radjendre Debie Philip Tjon A Tjoi INTIATIVE ACTION TEAM MAAHF (Extension service) Maureen Silos