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The Babel Food Resort is located in the Matawi region, in nothern Surinam. For a long time the region served as a mining place for the extraction of gold and silver, but due to the impact on the ecology and the risks for the human health, the practice is not legal anymore in the country.
Since the region has large areas of forest and soil suitable for cultivation, crops and tourism, these activities are seen as new opportunities for economic development. That is why the local organization Babel Food Resort wants to dedicate an area of 6 hectares of forest, near the town of Kwakoegron, to plant organic crops following the principles of permaculture. This will allow, on the one hand, for the direct processing of products (such as fruits, cocoa or cassava); and on the other hand it will promote a form of tourism focused on permaculture and the respect for nature. With these two investments, at least 20 jobs would be created to cover the activities of agriculture, processing and marketing of products and 5 further jobs in the touristic realm.
The project requires the adaptation of the soil by improving and cleaning the land an the creation of new internal connections with paths. The resort will include the construction of an area for compost, a greenhouse, a production area, a fermentation and drying area, and a manufacturing and marketing area for products. The construction of a kitchen with dining room, accommodation and cabins with toilets is planned for the tourist center. The electricity and water supply will be autonomous and rely on solar panels and cisterns.
Facts:
Project: Kwakoegron, Organic Agriculture & Sustainable Tourism
Promoter: Stichting Babel Food Resort. https://www.babelfoodresort.com/
In Collaboration with: InnnnSoPro and ARGE Weltladen
Architectural design. Diego Peña, Paco Rodríguez
Architectural Planing: aulaterra e.V
design stage: basic project finished 2021