Papaya Business Opportunities

Papaya cultivation: low capital, huge return on investment.

Superfood

Papaya is considered one of the most important fruits because it is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients (e.g., carotenes, vitamin C, and flavonoids), the B vitamins (e.g., folate and pantothenic acid), minerals (e.g., potassium and magnesium), and fiber.

In addition, papaya is a source of the digestive enzyme papain, which is used as an industrial ingredient in brewing, meat tenderizing, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, and cosmetics.

Origin

The papaya tree comes from Central America, including Mexico and the West Indies. The tree was created by crossing wild species. It is a fast-growing, unbranched tree. The tree's wood is very soft, and its trunk is hollow. At the top of the trunk is a kind of wig of large green palmate leaves. Just below that wig, the fruits grow directly on the trunk.

The name papaya is derived from the Indian papayana, which means to hammer. This refers to the tenderizing enzyme papain contained in the fruit.

Market

According to reports, global papaya production worldwide was approximately 13.74 million metric tons in 2019, growing at an annual rate of over 3 percent

This was an increase from around 13.24 million metric tons in 2018.

Papayas are produced in about 60 countries, with the bulk of production occurring in developing economies.

Country Ranking

In 2019, Suriname ranked as country number 55 (= 0.01%) of papaya-producing countries with 854 Metric tons.

List of countries by papaya production (Wikipedia)

Papaya Producers

In 2020, Suriname had a few small papaya producers. This leaves enormous room for growth of the existing farms and the number of farms.

Below you find a list of some operational papaya growers and producers/exporters in Suriname:

Papeeta Basket, Varsha Boejharat (Wanica). Facebook page
NV TAPS, Rick Ong a Kwie (Saramacca)
... (Brokopondo)
... (Commewijne)
... (Coronie)
... (Marowijne)
... (Nickerie)
... (Para)
... (Paramaribo)
... (Sipaliwini)

To get listed as a producer, send an email to info@discover-suriname.com. Serious requests will be considered for entry.

For general information about cultivating papaya in Suriname, please contact LVV, the Ministry of Agriculture, or email Chanderdew Kesharia, Communications, Agriculture.

Business Startups

Below you find a list of companies and entrepreneurs that are interested in becoming papaya growers, producers,s and exporters in Suriname:

... (Brokopondo)
... (Commewijne)
... (Coronie)
... (Marowijne)
Contact District Commissioner, Mrs. Gobardhan (Nickerie)
Contact: Mr. *** *** (Para)
... (Paramaribo)
... (Saramacca)
Contact: Mr. Fabian Adang (Sipaliwini)
... (Wanica)

For information about learning how to cultivate and grow papaya in Suriname, please contact ...

To get listed as an interested startup entrepreneur, send an email to info@discover-suriname.com. Serious requests will be considered for entry.

Investors

Investors who are interested in helping existing Surinamese papaya producers grow in volume or export are invited to do so.

You can contact any of the producers above or contact the associations where the producers are united: VEAPS, AKMOS, and others.

If you are interested in investing in the startup of a big papaya farm (over 5 Mt per year), please contact info@discover-suriname.com or FDI BIBIS, the government's one-stop shop for foreign direct investment.

Partners

Foreign papaya producers, importers, and companies that like to partner with Surinamese companies and take them in tow for a couple of years are also invited to contact the listed producers.