Pomtayer Cultivation West Klaaskreek receives a financial boost from Wijkdiaconie Haarlem

The Foundation for Agricultural Development Klaaskreek and Surroundings (LOKEO), located in Klaaskreek, Brokopondo was founded on July 18, 2014. Since then, together with various partners, the organization has been actively involved in work in the area, such as constructing the infrastructure and setting up testing grounds.

The foundation aims to advance agriculture in the West Klaaskreek area. In January 2024, the region began cultivating Pomtayer, backed by financial support from the Haarlem district diaconate and the combined efforts of the local community, the LOKEO foundation, and OpoFrey. This collaboration has enabled the cultivation of Pomtayer in the area. Initially, one hectare (approximately 2,000 Pomtayer plants) will be planted for further processing into Pom products. This marks the beginning of developing a processing sector for Pomtayer products, serving the Surinamese market and potentially extending beyond.

OpoFrey is an independent company based in Suriname. It specializes in the agricultural industry and holds the distinction of being one of the pioneering companies in West Klaaskreek to cultivate Pomtayer while actively contributing to the development of the agricultural processing sector. The company's current objective is to create and establish a storage and processing facility for agricultural products, specifically focusing on Pomtayer.

Through a connection with a board member from the Haarlem district diaconate, Humain B.V, a strategic partner of the LOKEO foundation, facilitated the launch of the first large-scale Pomtayer cultivation in the West Klaaskreek project. The conversation focused on agricultural development in West Klaaskreek, particularly the Pomtayer project, leading to the presentation of a project proposal.

The church's diaconate is dedicated to offering material support to individuals or organizations in need. Those requesting aid do not need to share the same Christian faith as the diaconate. The District Diaconate values self-reliance among citizens and has approved the project proposal as a form of encouragement.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship, and Technological Innovation's SURGE project is driving the expansion of Pomtayer cultivation. SURGE, which stands for Suriname's Growth Enterprises, is focused on supporting micro, small, and medium-sized businesses.

LOKEO aims to make a substantial contribution to the agricultural industry by cultivating Pomtayer on a large scale and processing it into finished products for the Pom industry. This approach not only creates employment opportunities locally, but also fosters connections between agricultural businesses in Suriname and potential customers in the Dutch/European market.