Access to sago during droughts

 By JAMES LARAKI

SAGO starch, commonly referred to as ‘Saksak’, is an important source of dietary carbohydrate in lowland and coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. 

Reports indicate PNG has over a million hectares of sago, of which 300,000 hectares are accessible and harvestable. 

Sago harvesting and consumption form an important part of the staple diet in certain parts of the country, with East Sepik, Gulf, and Western provinces among the top users of the palm. 

In these areas, it is the main staple, while in many others; it is an important secondary food to yams, taro, sweet potato, and banana. 

While this may be so, access to and management of sago as food is likely to face challenges due to the changing climate. 

During a drought it is likely people will have difficulty accessing their good sago stands. 

Rivers and creeks will dry up making transportation and washing of sago difficult. Bush fires pose a risk to sago stands. 

There are no advances in terms of technology for cultivation, processing and storing of this staple. 

Whatever adaptation strategy to ensure there is sago starch available in the event of a drought will have to done through indigenous knowledge and local experience. 

Extraction of starch from palms and storage continue to use traditional methods, something they have been doing for thousands of years.

The question now is “how can we make sure there is sago available should a drought occur?” 

An advantage with sago is that it can and will survive for longer period under droughts. 

It can grow in environment where other crops may not be able to grow. 

With little or no work done on sago; any efforts towards adaptation will have to be done with the use of local experience and knowledge. 

Local people know where their sago grows and know what areas are accessible even during very dry years. 

They are aware of permanent water sources to wash their sago during drier years. 

Such knowledge becomes handy to access and process sago.

Selective harvesting is an option during normal times. 

This is encouraged so that some trees are left near permanent water sources and accessible areas to be harvested and processed during droughts.

Fire outbreak becomes a concern. 

Fire can destroy sago during droughts, when normally swampy areas dry up. 

There were some unconfirmed reports of bush fires destroying a large area under sago in the Gulf province during the 1997 drought. 

Such incidences can happen when care is not taken. 

It is essential to discuss the dangers associated with fires with family members and the community at large so that everyone is aware. 

Storing sago will ensure con­sistent supply. 

Sago can be washed and stored to ensure there is food available when sago access becomes difficult. 

Different areas may use different ways to store sago. 

Again local knowledge and experience becomes handy. 

Use what works well in your community. 

Lessons from neighbouring communities and old people are useful. 

Whatever way you use, the most important thing for good storage is to wash and strain the sago well so that there is no fibre left in the washed sago. 

When this is done, drying will allow it to be stored for long period in good conditions. 

The sago starch can be spread out and dried in the sun. 

When it is well dried, it can be stored in the house, where it is often kept above fire places so that the smoke will help with preservation.

In some areas people sometimes roast pieces of the sago palm without processing. 

It is easier to eat it this way for sago that has less or no fibre. 

This could apply when processing is impossible due to water shortage. 

This ensures there is some food available, even if it is not very palatable.

Sago in most cases is harvested from the wild and is not commonly cultivated. 

As a long term measure, think about planting palms in good areas and close to permanent water sources. 

While palms may take some 15 years or more to mature, it is a worthwhile investment for the future.  

Doing so will be able address some of these challenges in the future.

Sago, like all other crops will be affected in one way or the other during droughts. 

Therefore, it essential to have in place strategies do deal such challenges. 

The challenge is to do what we can to ensure there is food available.