Two Surinamese ministers harvested the first fresh vegetables from the greenhouse of the Surinamese National Army. It is the intention to grow fruit and vegetables on a larger scale and also initiate livestock farming activities to supply all the National Army kitchens.
First harvest
On Thursday, 11 August 2016, the first vegetables were harvested in the greenhouses of the 'Von Freijburg’ farm of the National Army. The vegetables; including cabbage, cauliflower and peppers, were harvested by both Defense Minister Ronni Benschop and Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Farming and Fisheries , Soeresh Algoe. The farm now has about 60 troops performing horticultural activities to provide fruit and vegetables to all of the military kitchens.
Earlier this year, 45 of the soldiers at ‘Von Freijburg’ farm successfully completed the General Agricultural Training of the Ministry of LVV. They will be growing crops for the army in both the greenhouses and fields.
The 60 troops at the agricultural company received a training from the agricultural educators of the Ministry of LVV in May and June. During this training period they also put up three greenhouses that are 12 meters long, 8 meters wide and 4.5 meters high. The crops were transplanted in the greenhouses on 16 June.
Official opening of the greenhouses on June 16 by Defense Minister Ronni Benschop.
Soerohardjo Stys, one of the soldiers at the operations, is very happy with the farms' outut. Healthy fruit and vegetables are of enormous importance for Soerohardjo now that he knows more about fertilizers and plant protection products. He further indicates that planting in greenhouses can produce a higher yield as most problems are climatically related.