Socio-Economic Potency of Sago in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Five regencies in East Kalimantan (Paser, Penajam Paser Utara, Kutai Kartanegara, Kutai Timur, and Kutai Barat) of those surveyed showed great potential of sago plantation, in terms of growing native plant species and land suitability. Harvesting time of sago plants in this area is around 10-12 years, with productivity of 250-300 kg of sun dried sago per tree. About 50 ha of sago plants, consists of 30 ha and 20 ha of forest sago and semi-cultivated sago plants were found in surveyed locations in the five districts. Sago plants owners and sago craftsmen provide a very good response to the offer of sago cultivation program, because sago starch processing have been entrenched and they believe that their income will increase when starch sago processing is upscaled while sago starch markets are wide open. Obstacles in sago business development are there is simple equipment and methods used for the starch sago production, and there is no policy program to develop sago business from local government. Development strategy of Sago business, in East of Kalimantan can be conducted with the government participation in (i) develop of sago starch processing scale of the sago craftsmen, including programme of advice and assistance related to the activity, (ii) attract investors to build partnership with local sago owners and craftsmen, (iii) construct infrastructure and design programs that support the development of the sago plants as crop cultivation.