Suriname's School Gardens: A Step Towards Sustainable Food Systems

15 June 2023, Paramaribo, Suriname - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Government of Mexico and the Government of Suriname support the establishment of school gardens across 7 primary schools and 1 education centre in Suriname as a learning tool for food and nutrition education. The initiative is part of the “Resilient School Feeding Programme” sub-project of the Mexico-CARICOM-FAO “Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean” or Resilient Caribbean Initiative in short which seek to collaborate with countries in the Caribbean in their efforts to promote school feeding programs for healthy diets while creating synergy will local farmers.

The school gardens program is implemented at Herman Jozefschool, St. Thaddeus School, H.A. Siregarschool, H.C. Pawelschool, O.S. Latour 1, O.S. Wonoredjo, O.S. Ricanaumofo and Bromki fu Tamara (Education Centre) with the

support of Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the leadership of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. Students will learn how to grow and about the origin of a variety of vegetables crops which are essential for a balanced diet. Also, it will be an opportunity to learn about sustainable crop production techniques and methods, including using organic fertilizers and manure.

FAO National Project Coordinator Anne Getrouw thanked the strategic partners for their support in implementing this initiative noting that “School gardening is a great way to teach lessons outside the classroom, engage students in growing their own healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and positively influence the food choices of those involved in the garden.” The school gardens also demonstrate the potential for small-scale agriculture to contribute to food security and environmental sustainability.

Principal of the St. Thaddeus School expressed appreciation for the programme stating, "We are very happy with the garden in our school … the school garden is in line with our policy of 'being a Green School'; it will give school children an opportunity to learn about gardening and will also help to interest more children in the field of agriculture".

The school gardens are also expected to have positive impacts on the local economy and environment. By promoting the use of local and traditional crops, the initiative could contribute to the development of small-scale agriculture and the conservation of biodiversity.

The launch of the school gardens is part of a wider effort by the government to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation, improve food and nutrition security nationwide. The initiative is also aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 2: Zero Hunger, and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

The ‘Resilient Caribbean Initiative’ recognizes the value of school gardens as a tool for promoting food security, environmental sustainability, and youth development. The investment in the infrastructure for the school garden allows community engagement, builds climate resilience, and promotes sustainable development at all levels.