The Horticulture INNOVATION HUB

The Horticulture INNOVATION HUB was officially established as part of the ASTA Pineapple Project. The HUB was created to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen the pineapple value chain and was founded in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (LVV), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Suriname (BIBIS), and the private sector. The HUB serves as a one-stop-shop for producers, providing access to inputs, services, financing, and technical support. As a non-profit foundation, it is governed by a board consisting of stakeholders from across the value chain. The first board members emphasize a strong commitment to promoting female leadership. The board is led by Ms. Maitrie Jagroep from LVV as Chair, Ms. Elizabeth Bradley from BIBIS as Secretary, and Ms. Wendoline Sabajo, a pineapple farmer and village captain of Matta, as Treasurer.

ILO realized within the ASTA project an important training of trainers to strengthen capacities and support cooperatives of Suriname. The training was facilitated by Paskal Vandebussche and included 20 participants from the Ministries of Labour, Agriculture, Economic Affairs, and Regional Development, as well as representatives of the Cooperative Council and Foundation for Productive Units, representatives of VIDS, Kampos, and the Marron network, and members of the ASTA Joint UN Program. The aim is for the new trainers and their entities to integrate the lessons learned into their training programs and activities. The end goal is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of cooperatives to enable them to grow both in their social and economic goals to support farmers and their communities.