Identification of the distribution and characteristics of local sago from Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi

Abstract

In eastern Indonesia, particularly Southeast Sulawesi, sago is an important commodity as a carbohydrate-producing plant. Carbohydrate output can reach 15-24 tons ha-1 annually, surpassing rice, corn, and wheat. Southeast Sulawesi, notably the Kendari mainland, relied on sago starch until rice became the predominant carbohydrate source. Sago starch, like other basic starches, has no taste. Sago does not contain fat or protein, so it must be eaten alongside other local foods that do. Sago palms grown naturally produce 2–5 tons of dry starch per hectare. With 500 sago clumps per acre of varied ages, 100 trees might be harvested annually. Well-maintained farms can generate 150 kg of starch palm and 15 tons ha−1. Currently, only 5,912 ha are planted with sago, from the total area in 1985 was 13,000 ha. Sago development requires characterizing and identifying Kendari Southeast Sulawesi’s local sago. The results showed that there were three dominant types of local sago in Kendari, namely sago molat, sago tuni and sago borowila, originating from the main sago production centres in Kendari such as in Tobimeita, Abeli and Pohara.