Monocot (flowering palm , one seed-leaf, lower in multiples of three, usually with parallel leaves veins, vascular bundles scattered, fibrous root composed of adventitious roots:
|
Sago starch is valuable source of carbohydrate. It is widely used in the food industries. Products that have been produced from sago starch include monosodium glutamate, high fructose syrup, glucose, maltose, dextrose, caramel, vinegar, bakers’ yeast and products for local food industries.
Recent research has shown that product such as maltrodextrin, cyclodextrin, modified sago starch, biodegradable plastic and absorbent, and animal feed can be produced. Sago starch has also been used as a base for medicines and cosmetics.
Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu), is a crop that grows successfully on deep peat in Sarawak.
This indicates that sago palm is capable of adapting itself to the nutritionally poorer medium of the deep peat due to its dense and effective root system. Although the palm takes a long time to reach maturity, it, however, grows in perpetuity. Moreover, there are no maintenance, no fertilizer or replanting needed.Hence, growing the crop on deep peat is economically viable.
However, better plants with high starch content have been found on alluvial soil along riverbanks.
Sago palms in plantations with proper drainage, maintenance and fertilizer will mature faster. This high yielding crop can be grown on a very marginal soil resource with minimal disturbance to the natural swampy environment. In Sarawak, sago cultivation has traditionally been done on small land holding schemes for at least 60 years. |
