Training extension technicians in suitable rice crop management in Suriname was the main goal of the mission carried out from July 04 to July 07 in Suriname by the Embrapa researchers: Adriano Stephan Nascente, Marta Cristina Corsi de Filippi, and José Alexandre Freitas Barrigossi. The event comprised three days of technical lectures at the Ministry of Agriculture's auditorium in Paramaribo, the capital of the country, and a practical lesson in the location of Nickerie. During the course, the Embrapa researchers and 44 agricultural extension technicians from Suriname exchanged information about rice plant morphology and stages of development; control of pests, diseases, and weeds; fertilization management; and cultivars for the upland and irrigated systems. This action integrates the project “Support to the improvement of rice cultivation in Suriname”, which involves, alongside Embrapa, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC/MRE), the Ministry of the Agriculture of Suriname, and the Embassy of New Zealand in Brazil. According to the researchers from Embrapa, the training was important due to several aspects. Cristina Filippi highlighted that there are croplands in Suriname that are under high temperatures and humidity, which increases the incidence of diseases; thus one needs to be attentive to adequate measures. According to another researcher, José Alexandre, most pests found in the country also occur in Brazil, which makes control practices very similar. Meanwhile, Adriano Nascente observed that “the course provided tools so that the technicians can guide the farmers, even after the end of the project activities, giving it continuity”. Technical Cooperation The project “Support to the improvement of rice cultivation in Suriname” aims at providing sustainable technologies to increase rice productivity, obtained by the Quilombola people (descendants of fugitive African black slaves, aka Maroons) of Suriname. Such smallholders use rudimentary techniques and obtain a productivity that is lower than 1,000 kg/hectare. The project, whose technical coordinator is Adriano Nascente, started in April 2016 with the setup of experiments to assess cultivars (four from Brazil and three local Surinamese varieties), as well as experiments to assess nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization levels. After this, demonstrative units were built in Brokopondo and Atjonie to have the results reach rural communities. Field days showed the production potential of the cultivars with the use of technologies. All this work was led by Embrapa Rice and Beans with the help of the technician from the Ministry of Agriculture of Suriname, Ruby Kromokardi. Next steps The next project activities include the setup of four demonstration units in other sites to disseminate the techniques to a higher number of farmers, a course on rice seed production to help improve the quality of the seeds produced, and the production of seeds in one hectare aimed at distribution to Quilombola farmers. In November 2018, the project will be closed with a seminar to publicize all the activities performed. Translation: Mariana Medeiros