The growing of rice was initiated late in the 19th century - after the abolition of slavery - by immigrants from India and Java, because it was their staple food.
Nowadays rice is the nation's main dish and the rice sector is one of the cornerstones of Suriname's economy.
To help the immigrants get ground, polders were developed.
Before World War II those were: Sawmillkreek polder, Boonacker polder, Hamptoncourt polder, Henar polder, Van Drimmelen polder, Clara polder and Corantijn polder.

Members of the Pahladsingh family at Corantijn polder (around 1955)

This was the way rice was planted in the early years

Back then, plowing with an ox was common

State of the art rice enterprise at Clarapolder

Crematory at Corantijnpolder

Power plant of EBS at Clarapolder

SWM production facility at Sidoredjo