Sago Production Research Articles

Commercialization of Sago through Estate Plantation Scheme in Sarawak: The Way Forward

Sago has been hailed as a next viable commodity in Sarawak, Malaysia, given its potential as a versatile crop. Realising its potential, Sarawak state government has started initiatives to stimulate sago plantation from subsistence farming to estate plantation. The move of introducing sago estate plantation is a bold one considering that Malaysia is the first country introducing such plantation design. This is a reflection on sago estate plantation in the state of Sarawak. It is observed that, in order to ensure success of the plantation scheme, factors such as rigorous land consolidation programme aiming to maximize sago production; introduction of a modern planting method that integrates well with the traditional planting method; rigorous scientific research in finding the best sago variety that produces high yield; effective communication between related agencies and smallholders; and concentrated involvement of all actors, governmental agencies, mills, and smallholders, have to be addressed accordingly. To conclude, it is hoped that this writing can be utilized as part of a contribution to accelerating commercialization of sago as a next viable commodity crop not only in Sarawak but in Southeast Asia as a whole.

SAGO BARUK PALM (Arenga microcarpha Becc) AS A SUPERIOR LOCAL FOOD SOURCE AND SOIL CONSERVATION PLANT AT SANGIHE ISLAND REGENCY

The aim of this study was to analyze the production of sago, to analyze its chemical composition and nutrient content, and to analyze the rainfall infiltration capacity of sago baruk palm grown at different altitudes. The research was conducted from October 2010 to June 2011 in Gunung Village, Tabukan Tengah, district of Sangihe. The village is laid from the coast to the top of the hill with an altitude of ±600 m above sea level. The data analysis techniques used in this research were descriptive analyses and F test ANOVA. The results showed that sago stem weight and pith weight were significantly influenced by the altitudes. The heaviest stem weight was obtained at the bottom position, while the heaviest pith weight was obtained at the top position, and for the largest ratio of sago flour to palm stem was obtained at the top position. The chemical compositions were significantly different in the levels of protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, and pH at the three altitudes. The infiltration capacity near the cluster was higher than that of the outside cluster, both in dry and rainy seasons.

The Present State of Sago Production and its Future

The Present State of Sago Production and its Future

Nitrogen uptake by sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) in the early growth stages

Previous trials have revealed variable responses of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) to fertilizer application, particularly nitrogen (N). In the present study, we quantified the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of sago palm for the first time using 15N-labeled fertilizer in pot and field experiments. The pot experiment was conducted in Japan using a 2:1 mixture of sand to Philippine soil. The field experiment was conducted in Leyte in the Philippines. Both experiments consisted of three replicates in each of three treatments: control, 15N urea at 50 kg N ha−1 and 15N urea at 100 kg N ha−1. The N uptake of sago palm increased significantly, but inconsistently with increasing N application. The few instances of a significant increase in N uptake did not translate into significant improvements in growth parameters, except for the number of leaflets in the pot experiment. The FUE values for sago seedlings (< 6 months) in the pot experiment treated with 50 and 100 kg N ha−1 were 10.5 and 13.2%, respectively, whereas for the 2-year-old sago palms in the field, the corresponding FUE values were 14.8 and 12.0%. The FUE values were similar at the two levels of N application in both experiments. Sago growth parameters appeared to be insensitive to N application, suggesting that the form of N and the timing of N fertilization are important factors for sago palms. Therefore, the use of N fertilizer in sago production can only be justified after determining and fully understanding the response of sago palm to N application.

Industrial Demand for Cassava Starch in India

AbstractCassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) is a staple food crop cultivated in several developing countries. Cassava is consumed either directly as cooked tubers or as the products prepared from cassava. Cassava in India is used mainly in the human consumption, industrial and animal feed sectors. In India nearly 60% of cassava is used industrially in the production of sago, starch and dry chips. The presented study has clearly indicated that the future of cassava in India lies in its diversified uses in the industrial sector. The projected demand is predominantly in the adhesive sector, especially in the corrugation gums and paper conversion industry, and in the paper industry. The projected demand‐supply gap in the industrial sector is expected to be 1.5×106 t of cassava tubers requiring another 750 000 ha to be brought under cassava cultivation. New and potential areas in the non‐traditional cassava‐growing states are to be considered for area expansion.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IN THE VALUE ADDITION OF SWEETPOTATO AND CASSAVA FOR MINI AGRI-BUSINESSES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam) are important in ensuring nutritional and food security to a large population in the developing countries. Both these crops are cultivated and utilized widely in India. Whilst cassava, besides its food use, is important as an industrial raw material for starch and sago production, sweetpotato is mainly used as human food. Value addition in these crops is necessitated by rapid post-harvest spoilage. In view of the projected increase in global demand for processed products from root crops, research at CTCRI is focused mainly on product diversification and value addition. Value-added food products like semolina, flour-based fried products and fried chips have been developed from cassava. Sweetpotato-based food products include jam, pickles and soft drinks. Cassava silage as cattle feed and fibrous waste-based broiler feed are value-added products for the feed sector. Industrial products for mini-agribusinesses include wafers, gums and liquid adhesives. Immense scope also exists in biotechnological intervention to produce chemicals, enzymes, eco-friendly detergents, etc. The developmental elasticity of cassava and sweetpotato can be enhanced through wider awareness of their potential for starting agri-based units.

Spirulina cultivation in digested sago starch factory wastewater

Wastewater arising from the production of sago starchhas a high carbon to nitrogen ratio, which is improvedwith anaerobic fermentation in an upflow packed beddigester. The digested effluent with an average C: N:P ratio of 24: 0.14: 1 supported growth of Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira) with anaverage specific growth rate (μ) of 0.51day-1 compared with the average μ of 0.54day-1 in the inorganic Kosaric Medium in a highrate algal pond. Supplementation with 6 mM urea and2.1 mM K2HPO4 produced gross biomassproductivity of 14.4 g m-2 day-1. Aflow-rate of 24 cm s-1 increased the μ andgross biomass productivity (18 g m-2 day-1). The highest crude protein, carbohydrate and lipidcontents of the biomass were 68%, 23% and 11%,respectively. Percentage reductions in chemicaloxygen demand, ammoniacal-nitrogen and phosphatelevels of the digested effluent reached 98.0%, 99.9%and 99.4% respectively. The HRAP offers a goodtreatment system for sago starch factory wastewater.

Cyanogen Accumulation in Environment During Processing of Cassava ( Manihot Esculenta Crantz ) for Starch and Sago

Starch and Sago production from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots is an increasingly important agro industry. Casssava is one of many cyanogen containing plants. In the present study the amount of cyanogens present in the waste waters and ground waters collected from the starch/sago processing industries in Salem, the main centre of cassava starch and sago production in India was assessed. Concentration of total cyanogens ranged between 12.9 to 66.6 mg l-1 (as HCN) in the initial processing stages whereas the final discharge contained 10.4 to 27.4 mg l-1. Linamarase activity of the waste water samples ranged between 3350 to 3370.6 µmoles l-1 15 min-1. The ground water sources near cassava starch/sago factories showed much higher cyanogen concentration than the acceptable level. The level of total cyanogen in the samples of ground water ranged between 1.2 mg l-1 to 1.6 mg l-1.

The effect of retrogradation on enzyme susceptibility of sago starch

Gelatinized sago starch was stored for different times and under different temperature conditions for the investigation of retrogradation. DSC was used to monitor the thermal properties of retrograded starch. Bioavailability of starch samples was determined by porcine pancreatic α-amylase at 37 °C. Amylose retrograded rapidly at 5 °C, whereas amylopectin recrystallization was enhanced by sequential storage at 5 °C followed by 30 °C. Increased extent of retrogradation (high melting enthalpy values and melting temperature) caused reduced enzyme susceptibility of sago starch and sago products at 37 °C.

Sago Production in South Sulawesi

Sago Production in South Sulawesi

Music in Umeda Village, New Guinea

meda is one of four villages, the other three being Punda, Sowanda, and Waina-Wyalla, which make up the Waina-Sowanda census area in the West Sepik District of New Guinea, lying between the Bewani and Border Mountains and close to the West Irian border. The population of the Waina-Sowanda area is sparse, because it is one of the less ecologically favoured regions of New Guinea. In 1969 the population of the whole area numbered only about 960 individuals. Contacts with outsiders, mainly Malay, Dutch and Australian, have been sporadic and with little effect on the people. The economy depends mainly on hunting and collecting, with little emphasis on either gardening or livestock. Ceremonial exchange and Big Men, both of which are typical of New Guinea as a whole, are not encountered in the Waina-Sowanda area. With the lack of the Big Men, the emphasis in Umeda society is on equality. There are no specialist economic roles, and a relative lack of division of labour. In respect to the degree of specialization, Umeda society is not typical of the general Sepik region, where knowledge, and especially some forms of musical knowledge, is the preserve of particular clans. The general lack of specialization in Umeda is reflected in the music, where all men play the huf trumpets and everyone knows the repertoire of songs. Umeda society, however, though unspecialized, demands a high degree of coordination and cooperation between its members, especially in the production of sago. This, too, is reflected in the music. A particularly important aspect of Umeda society is the division of the village into two ritual moieties: edtodna (of the men) and agwatodna (of the women). In Umeda there are three edtodna hamlets and three agwatodna hamlets, and each hamlet is itself divided into two other moieties which come into their own in lesser rituals, such as curing and garden magic. In rituals involving the whole village, notably the important ida sago fertility ritual, each ritual role must be duplicated, one ritual actor coming from each of the two moieties. For this reason obviously both moieties, despite their names, contain men; furthermore, women are not significant in the rituals where moiety affiliation is important.

Sago production in a New Guinea economy

The techniques used by the Sanio-Hiowe of Papua New Guinea to produce edible starch from the sago palm (Metroxylon sp.) are described. Input-output analysis demonstrates that this is a highly productive subsistence technology; nevertheless, the Sanio-Hiowe economy is characterized by an absence of intensification. This is ascribed to functional consequences of dependence on hunting and gathering in the interior. In coastal and riverine habitats, other societies using sago supplemented by fishing or horticulture can more fully exploit the potential of sago as a basis for economic intensification and a more sedentary life.