Sustainable and climate-resilient management of the rice sector in Suriname

The project aims to transform Suriname's rice sector in the Nickerie district into a sustainable and climate-resilient system. It focuses on three main outcomes: improving water management and governance through the strengthening of Water Boards and the implementation of early warning systems; enhancing farming resilience via climate-smart seeds and cultivation practices; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a new Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system. The initiative specifically targets the inclusion of women in a traditionally male-dominated sector and proposes a revolving fund to overcome financial barriers for smallholder farmers. With a requested GCF grant of USD 19.6 million, the project expects to benefit 35,600 direct beneficiaries and reduce emissions by 184,400 tCO2eq over its lifespan.

• The Nickerie district is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing risks from sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and extreme temperatures. Projections indicate a significant increase in 'very hot days' (above 35°C), which can hinder pollination and reduce grain weight and quality.
• Rice cultivation is a primary source of agricultural emissions in Suriname, with nearly 50% of estimated cropland emissions stemming from rice paddy flooding due to methane release.
• Water governance in Nickerie is currently inefficient, characterized by poor land leveling and the use of high water-demanding techniques. The project seeks to revitalize the role of Water Boards to improve distribution and monitoring.
• There is a severe gender imbalance in the rice sector; while women are involved in processing and administration, 100% of the land dedicated to rice cultivation is owned by men, and women's participation in Water Boards is currently zero.
• The project proposes specific mitigation techniques to reduce emissions, including the 'alternate wetting and drying' (AWD) method and the adoption of shorter-cycle rice varieties (100 days instead of 120 days).
• Smallholder farmers face significant financial barriers, with less than 15% owning a bank account and many relying on informal credit, necessitating the creation of a revolving fund for climate-resilient equipment.
• The project aims to establish a Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system to track GHG emissions and enable the rice sector to access global carbon markets.
• The total indicative cost of the project is USD 21.6 million, with USD 19.6 million requested as a grant from the Green Climate Fund and USD 2 million in co-financing.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2023). Sustainable and climate-resilient management of the rice sector in Suriname. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/30350-sustainable-and-climate-resilient-management-rice-sector-suriname.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Sustainable and climate-resilient management of the rice sector in Suriname. 2023. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/30350-sustainable-and-climate-resilient-management-rice-sector-suriname.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Sustainable and climate-resilient management of the rice sector in Suriname |date=9 December 2023 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/30350-sustainable-and-climate-resilient-management-rice-sector-suriname.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2023sustainable, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Sustainable and climate-resilient management of the rice sector in Suriname}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/30350-sustainable-and-climate-resilient-management-rice-sector-suriname.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }