Nowadays the seasons have become unpredictable. Altered meteorological conditions have given rise to many more floods and droughts. Climate change is a reality, and we must adapt, otherwise we will be utterly vulnerable to the effects it brings.

One of the areas in which action is taking place, is agriculture. The Suriname Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA +) project is helping farmers learn to adapt and become more resilient in the face of climate change. Thanks to this project, irrigation systems, greenhouses and drip irrigation equipment have been installed. In addition, farmers have received all the necessary training in order to use the new equipment and techniques on their own.

The project is funded by the EU’s flagship climate change programme, GCCA+, and managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA).

One of the special outcomes emerging from the project, is the unity and solidarity between farmers. Before, they mainly used to work alone, but now they can support each other by sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Read a small extract from the article Climate smart agriculture boosts farmers in Suriname

Farmer Narinder Jagroe smiles as he contemplates the tomatoes and cucumbers growing on his small plot of land. It’s the dry season and it hasn’t rained for weeks - but Narinder isn’t worried. His new irrigation system means the young plants get all the water they need. 

“It has made a huge difference for our families,” says Narinder. “Before we installed the sprinkler system it was fifty-fifty whether the plants would survive. Now we can grow right through the dry season, and productivity has increased.”

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