Women’s group aim to produce high quality sago

A GROUP of women in Gulf are making sure sago production is more efficient, safer and of the highest quality.
It started after the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the PNG partnership’s Gulf transport route impact study identified sago processing and marketing as an economic development opportunity.
IFC Pacific country manager Thomas Jacobs said: “Sago production using commercial standards demonstrates how agribusiness can create opportunities and open up options.”
“It shows the potential of Papua New Guinea’s rich agricultural base and ultimately means a locally grown product can be produced more efficiently and safely, while empowering women and girls, and increasing food security.”
The project is run by a women’s association in Pawaian village.
IFC operations officer agribusiness South Pacific Christian Reichel said sago mechanisation had the potential to improve social outcomes for women.
“Our research team worked with women to capture their perceptions regarding sago mechanisation. We used the findings to maximise positive outcomes for women and the community.”
Around 1,300 people living in the area have sago farms. Girls are taught to process sago from the age of five.
The project has also established a number of buyers in Port Moresby and Total E&P PNG will facilitate logistics to deliver the product to market. A successful trial may lead to another two processing plants.
About 80 per cent of PNG people rely solely on agriculture for their food and income.
Sago is a staple food which more than 64 per cent of people depend on.
There is around one million hectares of wild sago across the nation.