Could you tell us a little bit about your company and its history?
We're a family-owned business that was established in 1960, so this year marks our 65th anniversary. My grandfather, originally from Guyana, started the company when he moved to Suriname due to the instability in his home country. He had already been involved in poultry farming there, so he expanded his operations here in Suriname.
During the 1980s and 1990s, we were the largest poultry producer in the country, but those years were tough due to economic difficulties. The war and financial crises in Suriname hit us hard. The Surinamese guilder was significantly devalued, and as a result, we struggled to survive. We managed to push through by taking out loans and making strategic adjustments. My father took over as director, and from the 1990s until the early 2000s, it was all about survival.
I joined the company in 2009 as the operations manager. At that point, we had to make drastic changes—new management, new employees—because the old way of doing things wasn’t working. In 2010, we got ISO-certified, which was a turning point for us. That opened doors to modernizing our production and reinvesting in the business. Today, we are one of the largest local producers of chicken in Suriname, with a fully automated slaughter line that processes 2,500 to 3,000 birds per hour.
How would you describe the current landscape of local poultry production in Suriname?
The poultry sector in Suriname faces serious challenges, mainly because of imports. Right now, only 40% of the poultry consumed in Suriname is locally produced, while 60% is imported, mostly from the United States and Brazil. The U.S. exports chicken legs at extremely low prices because they are considered a waste product there. Americans prefer white meat, so the dark meat gets sent abroad at prices we simply cannot compete with. Despite multiple efforts, we haven't been able to convince the government to support local production. We even proposed a plan that would allow us to gradually reduce imports while investing privately—without any subsidies—to increase local output. But the government isn’t interested. They claim to support local production during election campaigns, but in reality, they favor importers, who also happen to be the biggest sponsors of political parties.
We are still pushing forward, though. In 2019, we invested $2.5 million in fully automated growing facilities at our 160-hectare farm in Zanderij, near the airport. We’ve modernized our operations to increase efficiency and cut costs. Our ultimate goal is to be able to meet the entire demand for chicken in Suriname with local production, but that depends on fair competition, which is not happening at the moment.
With these challenges, do you see opportunities for future growth?
Yes, but we must be smart about it. Since we can't rely on government policies to protect local production, we are focusing on cost reduction. One of our major plans is to build our own feed mill, which will reduce our reliance on imported feed and lower production costs. Additionally, there are ongoing private-sector experiments in Suriname with growing corn, soy, and even cassava as potential feed alternatives. If these tests prove successful, they could significantly cut costs and create jobs in the agricultural sector. Our focus is on innovation—finding ways to optimize operations and become more competitive despite the lack of government support.
Given these obstacles, have you considered exporting your products?
Right now, exporting isn’t a realistic option for Suriname. We simply can’t compete with regional markets like Jamaica, Trinidad, or Barbados because their governments protect local industries with high tariffs. For example, in Guyana, there’s a 100% import tariff on poultry, while in Suriname, it’s only 30%. That means imported chicken still comes in at a lower price than what we can produce locally.
On top of that, the Surinamese government allows a portion of imported chicken to enter the country tariff-free under the pretense of food aid programs. However, not all that goes to the people in need—it finds its way back into the market, further undercutting local producers. Our focus remains on growing our share of the local market by reducing costs and offering a high-quality, fresh product.
Have you considered diversifying your business into other areas, like processed foods?
We are definitely looking at further processing. Instead of just selling fresh chicken, we are exploring options for value-added products like seasoned and pre-cooked chicken, chicken patties, and ready-made meals. However, right now, we are prioritizing investments in our feed mill and cost reduction strategies. Setting up a processing plant for ready-made meals would require significant capital, and since we don't want to rely on loans with high interest rates, we must take a step-by-step approach. For now, we are working with partners who specialize in processing, like Interfarm, to produce items like smoked chicken using our raw materials. But in the future, yes, a fully-fledged processing plant is definitely on the table.
Finally, what advice would you give to investors looking at Suriname as a business destination?
Don’t expect the government to help you. If you want to do business in Suriname, be prepared to build everything yourself and find your own solutions. The business environment is challenging, especially for local production, but if you are resourceful, innovative, and determined, there are opportunities. It’s a beautiful country with great potential, but if you rely on the government to make things happen, you will be disappointed. Entrepreneurs who succeed here are the ones who take matters into their own hands.
.png)
