Abstract

The sago industry has a pivotal role to exploit underutilized sago starch in the sago forest but is little known in terms of the feasibility of existing sago-processing industries, particularly in small islands. This paper outlines the feasibility and possible future development of existing sago industries in Maluku, Indonesia. Data were collected from field observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions from nine small-scale sago industries in Ambon and Seram Islands. Existing sago industries were found financially feasible in the short term but may be unsustainable over the longer term. Modern sago industries are 25 times higher in investment and operational costs but 15 times higher in production, up to 4 times higher in labor absorption, and 5 times higher in profit than that of semi-modern industry technology. However, modern sago industries are difficult to sustain because of the high price of raw material, uncertain market demand, fragile institutional development, and uncertain sago forest sustainability in the islands because the cutting of sago trees occurs about 15 times faster than that of conventional technology industry. This suggests that sustainable sago industries for food security in Maluku need adaptive technology to improve added value and to reduce operational costs and be small scale but intensive and efficient.

Highlights

  • Food security and population growth are a challenge to human development in the world, in developing countries like Indonesia

  • Based on the previous sago area data evaluation in different areas and times (Alfons and Bustaman 2005; BPPS Maluku 2009; Bintoro 2011; CBS 2012), it can be argued that the total area of sago in the Malukus is probably about 64,205 ha which could potentially produce around 500,800 mt of dry sago starch (Table 8.1)

  • The problem of food security in small islands is that the abundant local food resources like sago and the other local foods are abandoned by local people and replaced by imported rice (Girsang 2014)

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Summary

Introduction

Food security and population growth are a challenge to human development in the world, in developing countries like Indonesia. Small islands are vulnerable to food insecurity because they are relatively isolated, are less developed and have limited accessibility and connectivity within and between islands. In this case, staple food in small islands should be based on local food products; staple food has changed considerably from sago, maize, and tubers to rice as the national staple food. Staple food in small islands should be based on local food products; staple food has changed considerably from sago, maize, and tubers to rice as the national staple food This situation will endanger local staple food and create dependency on imported rice and vulnerability of food security (Fig. 8.1)

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