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
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Challenge the future
Delft University of Techology
The SURE approach for Surinam
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Rudi Darson
Consultant and representative
foundation SOIL (Surinaamse
Ontwikkeling van Innovatieve
Landbouw).
Otto Kroesen
Cross-cultural entrepreneurship
Delft Center of Entrepreneurship
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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.
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Inaccuracy in packing
Continuous improvisation
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!)
• 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)!
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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