1

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

The SURE approach for Surinam

1

Rudi Darson

Consultant and representative

foundation SOIL (Surinaamse

Ontwikkeling van Innovatieve

Landbouw).

Otto Kroesen

Cross-cultural entrepreneurship

Delft Center of Entrepreneurship

2

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

SURE: Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship

• Targeting smallholder farmers.

• 50% of the world population lives from agriculture. 70% of all farmers are smallholders, often household entrepreneurship by the women

1. Small steps in technical improvements. 2. Step-by-step growth in capacity. 3. Small investments.

• Not only farmers, but also vocational practitioners.

2

Inaccuracy in packing

Continuous improvisation

3

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Capacity as crucial factor

Capacity:

• Skills, knowledge

• Attitudes, values, beliefs

• Enabling environment, institutional framework

The main obstacle towards development is in attitudes, values, beliefs – the economic culture.

3

4

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

1. Small steps in technical innovation

• Improved seeds and fertilizer – increase of production

• Invest in a $1000 tropical greenhouse (production all year round)

• Improved water provisions

• Cooperative processing: juice, packaging, drying of vegetables, cassava flour!

• Solar energy

• Biogas and chicken

• Etc.

4

5

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

2. Capacity building by students involvement

1. Knowledge, competence and skills

2. Attitudes and values

3. Enabling policies and regulation (government)

1. An entrepreneurial attitude is required both from the students and from the target group: initiative taking, not dependent, creative, not repetitive, committed, not individualistic, etc.

2. The students and the people they work with grow in capacity by those three months of intense cooperation. Intense involvement with grassroots people to put learning processes in place and building up capacity. All our youth should do this!

5

6

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

2. Capacity building a central problem

1. Using seeds of better quality, buying them at the beginning of the season, instead of using the remains of the former season.

2. Bookkeeping, keeping track of the produce, planning ahead in view of the market.

3. Anticipating on the market in the choice of the produce

4. Constant search for improvement

5. Learning to deal with small scale more complicated technology, including maintenance and operation

6. Learning to (co-)operate within a larger network (beyond region and family) creating and maintaining trust (chain management, producers, customers, authorities).

a. Tremendous change of mindset!

b. Long processes of on-the-job learning (beautiful role for students!)

c. Change of values, process of growth

6

7

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

3. Small steps in investement

• Investment from the revenues

• Microcredit

• Leasing

• Support groups related to banks (SACCO’s)

• Donor funds, rotating funds, but aiming at cost recovery and financial sustainability as well

• The comprehensive SURE approach can be used for creating trust with the financial institutions, resulting in cheaper loans (thanks to higher chance of payback)!

7

8

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Design demands for rural entrepreneurship

• Small-scale solutions

• Frugal solutions

• Robust solutions

• Easy maintenance, easy operation

• Local materials (if possible)

• Cooperation with vocational training institutes (systems change)

• Establishment of SMEs, business options

• Start with financial support, grow further of itself

8

9

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Also changing the business environment

• Marketing the produce: small-scale, large-scale

• Chain management: reach customers farther away, mediating enterprises, packaging, cooling

• Processing the produce and adding value, juice, flour, etc., cooperatives, network of companies

• Regulation and policy issues – the role of the state authorities

• Enabling social environment (often tax regimes benefiting large scale farmers)

• Always: Capacity a crucial factor, learning takes time

9

10

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Context for SURE in Moengo (Suriname)

• Suralco/Alcoa, the (only) employer left Marowijne

• Marowijne has about 20.000 inhabitants (Moengo 10.000), the majority is youth

• Chinese supermarkets

• Schools (mainly basic education)

• Government officers (no production)

• Albina (‘main capital’) has a small market

• ‘Hosselaars’

• Unemployment is high

• Cooperation with TU Delft since 2005/2006

11

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

From Mining to Agriculture

• Internship projects on education and development but most were unrelated

• Research report on opportunities for Marowijne/Moengo

• Best opportunities proved to be in agriculture

• Instead of one big firm different agro-SME’s

• Agro-chain: primary-secondary-tertiary-quarternary

• Coordinated: Greenport Marowijne

• Technology as driver/modern agriculture

12

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Greenport Marowijne

• Concept for the sustainable development of Marowijne based on SURE

• Based on agriculture, eco-tourism, creative sector

• For Agriculture the whole chain must be involved (primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary)

• Technology-based

• To replace the mining economy

• And providing for income and employment

• Using (frugal) innovation

13

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Greenport Marowijne

14

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Technology based development 1.0.

Agri&Food Technology Agro-technology

Primary Greenhouses precision farming

new crops

Secondary Oven packaging kwak

Cassava mach. Cassava 2.0.

Tertiary MAF 2017/2018

Quarternary Websites/Platform AP Curriculum

15

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Innovations?

16

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

Technology-based development 2.0.

What is next?

We keep looking:

direction and technology

17

Challenge the future

Delft University of Techology

The SOIL Elements for Development

Greenport Marowijne

Adding Value: Finance Network

Technology

SURE/ SURED

Prototyping

Rural Development

Step by Step

Capacity Building