SAGO IS A FORGOTTEN WEALTH

DIAGNOSTIC STUDY

SME

THE SAGO & STARCH INDUSTRY CLUSTER

SALEM (TAMIL NADU)

BY

C.SUDHANDHIRAN

Project Co-ordinator,PROJECT UPTECH

STATE BANK OF INDIA, SALEM

DEVELOPED UNDER

THE CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT AGENT TRAINING PROGRAMME,

ORGANISED BY UNIDO CDP, NEW DELHI

&

THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF INDIA

(EDII), AHMEDABAD

YEAR 2001

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 THE GLOBAL SCENARIO

Tapioca Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) was introduced in India during the later part of the 17th

century by the Portuguese living in the state of Kerala. India’s share is about 6 per cent in the total world

production of tapioca. The other important tapioca producing countries are Brazil, Nigeria, Zaire,

Thailand and Indonesia. Tapioca is a tuber crop of huge economic importance as it is used not only for

human and animal food consumption but also as a raw material for various industrial products. Each day

about 500 million people consume tapioca world over and derive 300 kilo calories of energy (Edison,

1999).

Globally cassava is grown in about 95 countries with major contributions coming from Africa (57%)

followed by Asia (25%). The wide agro-ecological adaptability of cassava coupled with its ability to

withstand biotic and non-biotic stresses have made it a crop of primary importance for the weaker

sections of the society, especially in the developing countrie s of Africa, America and Asia.

Tapioca is one of the most important subsistence food and industrial crop for the developing countries.

Globally, about 158 million tons of tapioca is produced from an area of 15.7 million hectares with an

average productivity of 10 tons/ha. As mentioned earlier, among the tapioca producing continents in the

world, Asia ranks next only to Africa with an area and production of 3.97 million hectares and 51.44

million tons respectively (anon., 1993).

1.2 THE NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY

In India, tapioca is grown in an area of 3.1 lac hectares with an annual production of 60 lac tons.

Although cassava is cultivated in about 13 states of India, the major production comes form the southern

states of India i.e. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In the view of the changing lifestyle, influx

of gulf money, availability of grains through public distribution system and a shift in cultivation pattern

favouring plantation crops, the areas in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh showed a gradual increase in

cassava production over the years.

While the total production of Kerala came down to 2.58 million tons in 1996-97 from 4.2 million tons in

1967-68, the same rose to 3.04 million tone from 0.42 million tons during the corresponding periods in

Tamil Nadu. This remarkable increase in production in Tamil Nadu was the result of adopting high

yielding cultivators like H 226 and H 165. A survey conducted by CTCRI has indicated that more than

three fourth of the cassava area in Salem, South Arcot and Dharmapuri districts was under these variety of

seeds.

The huge shift in the focus of cassava production from Kerala to Tamil Nadu is clearly evident from the

following table:

CASSAVA PRODUCTION KERALA TAMIL NADU

1967-68

a. Area under cultivation

b. Percentage of national

production

86%

91%

13%

9%

1996-97

a. Area under cultivation

b. Percentage of national

production

61%

45%

29%

52%

Tapioca is cultivated predominantly in Kerala as a staple food crop while it is more of an industrial crop

in Tamil Nadu. Tapioca root is valued for its starch content and mainly used by sago industries. The

tapioca root contains 30 to 40 per cent of dry matters, which is principally carbohydrate. It has acceptable

levels of B vitamins and provides other minerals too. In Tamil Nadu, tapioca is being grown in an area of

85,412 ha accounting for an annual production of 32.22 lac tons. Around 80 per cent of the total tapioca

production is utilised by the sago and starch based industries in the state (According to Thamburaj and

Kannan, 1997; Vikas Singhal, 1999).

Based on the statistical projection, the production of cassava is expected to reach 6.08, 6.76 and 7.44

million tons respectively by 2000, 2010 and 2020. But considering the population growth rate, the

country should aim to produce cassava tubes to the tune of 12 million tons by the year 2020, which would

call for extensive R&D strategies in the field. The present productivity of 22.5 t/ha is projected to rise to

26.95, 32.57 and 38.20 t/ha by 2000, 2010 and 2020 respectively.

1.3 USES OF TAPIOCA

· Tapioca as a food security

Tapioca can serve as a nucleus for many industries with the application of biotechnology, especially

in the fermentation industries (Balagopalan et al., 1992). On the other hand, tapioca has emerged as a

cash crop in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The crop fulfills the need of the massive starch and sago industries in these states. In order to

maintain the supply of food materials and to keep pace with the ever-increasing population, tapioca

has to be retained well within the cropping system of marginal farmers.

· Tapioca based agro industries

Globally 58 percent of tapioca produced is used as human food, 28 per cent as animal feed, 4 percent

in alcohol and starch based industries and only 10 per cent is spoiled (Mandal, 1993). While more

than one fourth of the total tubers produced (158 million tons) in the world is in Asia, India accounts

for only 6.5 per cent and Indonesia and Thailand account for about 10 per cent (Anon, 1993).

Thailand and Indonesia export tapioca chips and pellets to other countries. The pellets are used as

animal feed in western countries. In India, particularly Tamil Nadu and Kerala have the potential of

increasing the productivity further and compete in the export of chips and pellets in the international

market.

Tapioca can be used as a raw material for a number of value added industrial products such as starch,

sago, glucose, dextrin, gums and fructose syrup. Most of the items mentioned are industrial products

which can be categorised as “growth industries”. The industrial tapioca starch finds its application in

various fields. The major consumers are cotton and jute textile, and paper and hard board industries.

Liquid glucose and dextrose are widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Both these sectors

are in a rapidly growing stage. The Government of India has included liquid glucose and dextrose in

the list of items where there is likely to be a sustained demand and scope for investment. Since there

is substantial growth in the food and pharmaceutical industries, naturally the demand for liquid

glucose and dextrose is bound to go up in future. As tapioca starch possesses the advantageous

physio-chemical and structural properties it can be easily converted to liquid glucose and dextrose.

Many factories have been established recently with this objective.

· Cassava-chips and flour

White chips are used for the preparation of cassava flour, which is consumed in the same manner as

rice flour. It also forms a major component in many animal feeds. In industry it serves as a raw

material for manufacturing starch, dextrin, glucose and ethyl.

Very fine cassava chips or crisps are deep fried in edible oil, packed in polythene bags and sold as

snack food commercially in various parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Gold fingers,

wafers, sago pappads and tapioca pappads are some of the other snack food items produced in home

and cottage industries and are available in the market for sale.

· Sago

Sago (sabot-dana or pearls) is used as a snack food in preparation of porridge. It is also popular as an

infant food. About 35 industries from Andhra Pradesh and many from Tamil Nadu are engaged in

manufacturing sago from cassava tubers.

· Starch

Cassava finds a major industrial utilisation in the production of starch. Starch and sago are produced

from cassava tubers in more than 900 small and medium scale factories and at least two large-scale

industries in Tamil Nadu. In Andhra Pradesh one large scale and about 35 small-scale industries

process cassava tubers for starch and sago production.

The cassava starch is used in paper industries (at beater stage, as calendar sizing, for paper coating, as

wet and additive), Textile industries (as wrap sizing agent, in fabric finishing), Food industries and

Adhesives. Gum and laundry starch is produced in cottage industry near Trivandram for marketing

and sales on a regular basis.

· Modified Starches

Two firms in Tamil Nadu namely, M/s SPAC Tapioca Products (India) Ltd and M/s Varalakshmi

Starch industries Ltd, Salem are engaged in manufacturing, marketing and sales of cassava starch

derivatives such as corrugated gum starch, carboxyl methyl starch, acid modified starch, cationic

starch and pregelatinised starch.

Another firm in Andhra Pradesh, M/s Vensa Biotek Ltd of Samalkot is expected to commence

production of cold-water soluble cassava starch using CTCRI technology. And a firm in Kerala

named M/s National Chemicals and Adhesives of Quilon manufactures and markets carboxyl methyl

starch using cassava starch as animal feed material. This firm is also involved in large-scale

manufacture and marketing of Dextrin, which is derived from cassava starch.

· Dextrin

A good number of small-scale industries are engaged in producing dextrin from cassava starch, which

is relatively a simple process.

· Sweeteners

Liquid Glucose is being manufactured by M/s. Vensa Biotek Ltd., Samalkot, AP from cassava starch

and/or flour. M/s. Varalakshmi Starch Industries Ltd., Salem, TN reportedly manufactures maltodextrin

and monosodium glutamate from cassava starch. M/s. jayant Vitamins, Vadodara, Gujarat had

ventured in producing sorbitol as a sweetener and a precursor to manufacturing of Vitamin C.

· Ethanol

The CTCRI technology for the process of manufacturing ethyl alcohol using cassava chips, flour or

starch has been procured by M/s. Superstar Distilleries, Kochi, Kerala and M/s. Vairam Agro Fuels,

Chennai. The former licensee had commenced commercial production and limited marketing

· Starch-based biodegradable plastics

The CTCRI technology for manufacturing of starch-based biodegradable plastics has been licensed to

4 parties in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. M/s. Shivalik Agro Poly

Products, Parwanoo, HP has already commenced commercial production. The unit at Bangalore,

Karnataka is expected to commence production shortly using cassava starch.

2. THE SALEM CLUSTER

2.1 ABOUT THE REGION

Salem has traditionally been known as the land of sago and starch. The industry got a fillip during the

Second World War when imports from the far-east were rendered impossible. The Salem region offers a

good raw material base, cheap labour and good sunshine throughout the year. All these factors provide a

congenial environment for growth of tapioca based products and have made this place famous for the

same even at an international level.

The productivity of tapioca is about 25-30 t/ha in this area, which is known to be the highest in the world.

The national average is 19 t/ha while the world average production stands at 10 t/ha only.

2.2 THE GROWTH OF SAGO AND STARCH INDUSTRIES IN SALEM

In the year 1943, Mr. Manickam Chettiar an adventurous entrepreneur went to Kerala and found tapioca

flour to be a good substitute for American corn flour. He tried various ways and means to improve the

production and marketing of this flour. To meet the growing demand of sago and starch, Mr. Manickam

with the help of a genius mechanic Mr. Venkatachalam Gounder, improved the method and machineries

for production. In their efforts, they were able to increase the production of Sago flour from 20 to 25 bags

per day.

The sago and tapioca starch industry was born during the Second World war but the end of war posed a

threat to its existence because of the changes in the import policies. As a result of the successful

representations made by the sago and starch manufacturers, and at the instance of the then Governor

General of India, Thiru. C. Rajagopalachari, the Indian Government imposed a ban on import of starch.

The industry heaved a sigh of relief temporarily before they were made to confront with the import of

maize starch under P.L.480, which again came to an end in 1965.

The sago industry in the Salem district and the adjoining areas has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the

last 60 years, as shown below:

Year No of Units Production (in tons)

1945 7

1949 45 7000

1957 125 23000

1960 200 50000

1970 650 1.5 lac tons

As on date there are more than 750 sago and starch units in Salem, Namakkal, Dharampuri and Erode

districts, registering an awesome growth! It is but appropriate to name this grand growth as the “Sago

Revolution”.

2.3 THE ROLE OF 'SAGOSERVE' IN THE CLUSTER'S GROWTH

Prior to the formation of SAGOSERVE, an industrial cooperative service society, the manufacturers of

starch and sago in this district faced a lot of problems such as lack of financial assistance, warehousing

and marketing facilities for tapioca products. The merchants used to offer low prices for their goods and

exploited the manufacturers due to an absence of organised marketing and warehousing facilities.

To overcome these problems, the sago/starch manufacturers in 1981 formed the Salem Starch and Sago

Manufacturers Service Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd., popularly known as the SAGOSERVE under

the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act 1961. This society is functioning under the administrative

control of the Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu.

After the emergence of SAGOSERVE, the bargaining power of manufacturers has substantially increased

and the menace of middlemen in this trade has been completely eliminated. Owing to the sustained efforts

of the society, sago/starch industry has now become the backbone of Salem district’s rural economy,

providing employment to more than 5 lac people both in agriculture as well as factories.

sago natural

In what most people are describing as a medical miracle, Randall McCloy Jr., the only surviving miner of the West Virginia Sago Mine disaster, has returned home. McCloy endured more than 40 hours trapped underground in a collapsed mine exposed to carbon monoxide before being liberated.

When rescued from the Sago mine nearly four months ago, he had brain failure, heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure.

Needless to say, his outlook appeared very bleak. He was immediately transferred to one of the 30 brain trauma centers in the United States located at the West Virginia School of Medicine and was to be under the care of Dr. Julian Bailes.

Dr. Bailes called upon Dr. Barry Sears, one of the leading authorities in high-dose fish oil in the United States, to see if there was anything Dr. Sears might suggest.

"Barry's our hero," Bailes said recently. "For me, Barry is one of the main reasons why I got interested in the whole essential fatty acid area. I've read everything he's written, and he convinced me that DHA could play a role in Mr. McCloy's recovery. He sent me his product, which was the main source in his treatments."

Dr. Sears suggested administering 30 grams per day of the fish oil concentrate he developed, OmegaRx*, that would provide 18 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) via tube feeding. The oil was an integral daily part of Randall McCloy's treatment for the next several months.

Because this was a very high dose of EPA and DHA, McCloy's blood levels were constantly monitored to ensure that the levels of these fatty acids (EPA and DHA) fell within a certain therapeutic range. Bailes said the blood test numbers were "right on the money." The EPA was needed to reduce the inflammation caused by the lack of oxygen within the organs, and the DHA was required to rebuild the brain, Dr. Sears said.

Today the damage to his heart, kidneys, and liver has been reversed, and he is home with his family. A miracle it is, but a miracle that Dr. Bailes believes was considerably helped by high-dose fish oil. "I certainly think it played a big role," Bailes said. "How can he rebuild his brain if he doesn't have the substrate to do it?"

Dr. Sears said he plans to continue to do studies with Dr. Bailes through his nonprofit Inflammation Research Foundation on the impact of high-dose fish oil on brain trauma patients.

Maintaining a Healthy Brain

Sago Sago Flour/Starch

Sago
Proper Sago Palm care is essential for a beautiful looking plant. The Sago Palm tree, scientifically known as the Cycas revoluta, is one of the most primitive living seed plants. They are unusual ornamental plants that are very hardy. In the United States, they are typically found in warm moist climates like the Houston area. They are related to conifer trees. They are characterized by a rough trunk with light feathery leaves.

SAGO GETO LOH.........

SAGO GETO LOH

Sago natural food The valid scientific name for sago is Potamogeton pectinatus, assigned by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum of 1753. The name Potamogeton is derived from the Greek for "river neighbor," and the specific epithet pectinatus ("comb-like") derives from the closely set insertion of the plant's leaves. The synonyms P. interruptus Kit., P. latifolius J. Robbins, P. flabellatus Bab., and P. columbianus Suksdorf have been used in North American botanical texts. Many other synonyms have used in Europe. Two modern treatments, Kartesz and Kartesz (1980) and United States Department of Agriculture (1982), recognize 40 and 35 North American species of Potamogeton, respectively, and place the genus in the family Potamogetonaceae. Earlier, the genus had variously been placed in the families Zosteraceae and Najadaceae (Fernald 1950). There are about 100 species of Potamogeton world-wide (Kadono 1982). Sago flowers and leaves are simple and anatomically reduced, compared to those of other family members (Sculthorpe 1967). Sago was one of the first Potamogetons to be described. An illustration of "fennel-leaved water milfoile" is easily recognized as sago in the ancient herbal of John Gerarde (Johnson 1633; Moore 1915). An excellent history of the genus is available (Moore 1915).
Colloquial names for sago in the United States include duck grass, duck moss, eelgrass, fennel pondweed, foxtail, Indian grass, old-fashioned bay grass, pondgrass, potato moss, and wild celery (McAtee 1939). In Europe, sago has been called poker and pochard grass (McAtee 1917) and, in Australia, string weed (Fletcher et al. 1985).
In North America, sago is placed with P. filiformis and P. vaginatus in the subgenus Coleogeton, in which all leaves are linear or setaceous, nonfloating, and divided their full length by crosspartitions (Fernald 1950). Harrison (1949) claims members of this subgenus are, unlike others, water pollinated. The three coleogetonous species have also been shown to form a distinct subgroup based on the chemistry of the waters they inhabit (Pip 1987). In the field, sago can be differentiated from the two other coleogetonous species by the presence of usually sharp-tipped or gradually pointed leaves and leaf sheaths that are rather narrow but free at the tips.
Sago has an average of 2n = 78 (70-87) chromosomes (Kalkman and Van Wijk 1984). Analyses of isoenzymes indicated that the species is genetically very heterogeneous (Hettiarachchi and Triest 1986; Van Wijk et al. 1988). Sago hybridizes with Potamogeton filiformis (P. x suecicus Richt.) and P. vaginatus (Hagstrom 1916; Dandy and Taylor 1946; Harrison 1949). Meriaux (1978) and Van Wijk (1988) reviewed the work of many European taxonomists who named many varieties or "proles" of sago (dichotomus Wallr., drupaceus Koch, flabellatus Crep., interceptus Asch., protensus Wallr., setaceus Mey., scoparius Wallr., vulgaris Cham. and Schl., and zosteraceus Fries). Both questioned whether these are simple morphs or truly have value as indicators of specific biotopes or habitat types. Luther (1951, cited in Van Wijk 1983) also concluded that the different types of sago were habitat modifications. The varieties interruptus Asch., pectinatus, and scoparius have been maintained in a recent European flora, although their taxonomic validity is said to be unclear (Casper and Krausch 1980, cited in Van Wijk 1988). Van Wijk (1983) found different morphological and ecological characteristics of annual and perennial P. pectinatus in the field and in cultured plants and recommended that the existence of these ecotypes be considered when studying the taxon. Wiegleb (1978) associated the variety scoparius with HCO3-poor waters and the variety interruptus with sites polluted with sewage. Recent work has shown that genetic differentiation does occur in sago and must be considered along with morphological characters if the taxonomy of the species is to be clarified (Van Wijk et al. 1988).
________________________________________
Autoecological Classification
Sago is one of only three or four North American species of Potamogeton that bear starchy underground perennating organs called turions or tubers, although a few other species have tuberous rootstalks. Sago is generally classified as a ruderal (capable of occupying mechanically disturbed areas), has multiple regenerative strategies, and is a stress tolerant, competitive plant that, depending on exposure to wave action, can alter its allocation of resources to different reproductive organs (Grime 1979; Kautsky 1987). In growth form, sago is considered a parvopotamid--that is, a higher aquatic plant rooted in sediment, perennially submersed except for inflorescences, and possessing long stems and small, mostly undivided, leaves (Hutchinson 1975). Luxuriant parvopotamid growth results in dense leaves, branches, and inflorescences in the upper part of the water column, with much thinner vegetation of stems and widely spaced leaves below; vegetation density of the upper part increases as water levels drop (Verhoeven 1980a).
Meriaux (1978) reviewed the work of devotees of the Zurich-Montpellier school of phytosociology (Braun-Blanquet 1932) who placed sago in various orders, alliances, and associations with other species in this elaborate phytosociological classification system. Sago was also recognized as a character or dominant species in several European and Asian associations by Hejny and Husak (1978). Sago is the most prominent plant in the Potamogeton facies of several estuarine plant communities in Europe (Kornas et al. 1960) and a faithful taxon in the class Potamea (den Hartog and Segal 1964) in some wetlands in India (Zutshi 1975). Sago also is a member of several Chara-, Ruppia-, and Zannichellia- dominated communities in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Eurosiberian regions (Lindner 1978; Verhoeven 1980a; Van Vierssen 1982a).
Sago can be considered a pioneering species, because it quickly inhabits newly flooded areas (Nelson 1954) and invades shallow waters with relatively strong wave action (Ozimek and Kowalczewski 1984) or those that are polluted (Haslam 1978). Sago is one of the first species to colonize areas reclaimed from the sea (Wolseley 1986). den Hartog (1963) and Van Vierssen (1982a) considered sago a survivor species that often showed mass development in areas where the environment became temporarily unsuitable for other species. Davis and Brinson (1980) placed sago in a group of plants tolerant of, and able to maintain dominance in, altered ecosystems.
Sago is found in submerged, floating-leaved, and emergent communities. Best plant development occurs in submerged communities, and the poorest in emergent communities where sago plants tend to be short in stature (Van der Valk and Bliss 1971). In general, most other growth forms of hydrophytes, except similar types such as charids, valisnerids, and ceratophyllids, negatively influence the environment for parvopotamids, usually because of competition for light (Hogeweg and Brenkert 1969).
Most submersed macrophytes are sensitive to frost damage (Lohammar 1938). This, combined with the rapid decomposition of plants in water, causes sago to usually behave as an annual in shallow waters in temperate climates, with buried turions the only vegetative structure to survive winter (Lapirov and Petukhova 1985). However, green sago shoots can be collected under winter ice, presumably in deeper waters (Hammer and Heseltine 1988). Turions are perennial diaspores formed underwater and take several weeks or months to develop. The fruit-like seed (drupelets) can require a stratification period to germinate well in areas of fairly mild climate. These findings, plus the observation that sago could not compete well in shallow water against species that produce seeds (annual diaspores) more quickly, led Van Vierssen and Verhoeven (1983) to consider sago a species rather intolerant of habitat desiccation.
In mild climates sago can be evergreen (Spence et al. 1979b). Rarely, some deepwater forms of sago grow perennially from submersed rootstalks and can also have green shoots that survive winter (Moore 1915). Sago can behave as an annual by dying under conditions of high salinity and regenerating from drupelets when salinity decreases (Congdon and McComb 1981). When sago is compared to Potamogeton nodosus, a species that forms winter buds rather than turions, both species invest about the same amount of photosynthate in perennating structures, but sago produces about twice as many propagules (Spencer and Anderson 1987).
The functional aspects of sago's ability to thrive and survive in a wide variety of environments have been addressed in detail by Van Wijk (1988) and will be discussed in later chapters. Van Wijk (1988) points out the confusion that has resulted from use of the terms annual and perennial to categorize plant types as well as life-cycle types, and argues that they should only be used to indicate life cycles of populations without implying a classification of plant species. Under this system, sago could theoretically be said to have an annual life cycle with either (1) generative reproduction by seeds or vegetative reproduction by turions or thickened rhizomes or (2) a perennial life cycle with vegetative reproduction by whole plants or shoots. Not all of these strategies have been observed in nature.
In Europe, the Potamogeton pectinatus association is often linked to brackish water (den Hartog 1963) and inland marshes and depressions affected by mineral pollution (Meriaux 1978). den Hartog (1981) placed sago with a small group of plants that share many properties with marine angiosperms but cannot compete well with them except under special circumstances. He termed sago a member of the eurysaline group of plants in that they are able to tolerate waters from fresh to hyperhaline that vary greatly in chemical composition. These plants are also able to withstand rapid and considerable fluctuations in salt content of the waters they inhabit., Iversen (1929) included sago in a group of species restricted to alkaline waters. Lohammar (1938) found sago in lake waters characterized by both high pH and calcium content. Further analysis of Lohammar's data by Hutchinson (1975) showed sago to be a eurytopic species able to tolerate a wide range of nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) concentrations. Moyle (1945) placed sago in an assemblage of hard water species able to withstand waters high in sulfate ion. Other classifications based on water chemistry have been proposed by Spence (1967) and Seddon (1972).
________________________________________
Distribution
Unlike most of the Potamogetons, which are interior and northern in global distribution, sago is nearly cosmopolitan (St. John 1916). The plant occurs circumboreally to about 70° N (Hulten 1968) and can also be found in South Africa, South America, South Eurasia, and New Zealand. The species occurs from sea level to nearly 4,900 m above sea level in high mountains of Venezuela and Tibet (Ascherson and Graebener 1907, cited in Yeo 1965). Pip (1987) recorded 19 species of Potamogeton at 430 wetland sites distributed throughout a large area of central North America and found sago second only to P. richardsonii in frequency of occurrence.

A researcher from Aklan State University (ASU) in Banga, Aklan, has ,found an easy way to germinate sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) seeds for planting. Previously people found it hard to germinate seeds of this palm species which yields valuable flour as well as leaves for roofing.
He is Michael Ibisate, research coordinator of the ASU’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, who said that sago seeds easily germinate when soaked in a swampy and muddy environment provided that they are physiologically mature.
In his experiment, Ibisate simulated the environment which favors seed germination. This resulted in one hundred percent germination of mature sago seeds after one month, he said.
Ibisate, who has been working on the conservation of sago palm using tissue culture technique, said in their previous study that the sago seed was believed to have poor germination due to the presence of pericarp and sarcotesta. Thus, his research team used embryo rescue technique which enabled the successful development of an immature or weak embryo into a viable plant in vitro.
Aside from tissue culture, sucker is the widely used planting material for mass propagation of sago palm. In this regard, ASU researchers are planning to study further the use of sucker as planting material to determine the optimum conditions required to reduce mortality rate at seedling stage.
Sago, locally known as Ambolong in AkIan, has enormous starch deposit in its trunk. The starch has a high food value and has a big potential for industrial use. A mature sago palm could yield 50 to 70 kilos of starch. The pith, bud and shoot can also be eaten; the sap can be processed into sugar, vinegar and wine.
Apart from its use as food, Aklanons find sago as the best source of material for making shingles used as roofing material for light houses or huts. Ibisate said that many shingle makers in the province prefer using sago leaves over nipa leaves because sago leaves are more -durable, especially when used in coastal areas. Sago shingles fetch a higher price than nipa shingles. The biggest market for sago shingles is Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.
Ibisate revealed that there is now a growing demand for sago palm as ornamental plant, both for use indoor and outdoor. Sago, he said, can be grown in an ordinary garden soil and does not require much attention.
Ibisate’s ongoing study on the conservation of sago palm is one of the projects being supported by ASU. At present, he is studying various parameters to further enhance the development of sago by using seeds as planting material.
Meanwhile, Ibisate continues to mass propagate sago palm from seeds to help increase the local supply of seedlings. And the good news is that several hundreds of seedlings are now available to interested growers at P50 each.
Answer
Mike, cannas and day lilies are propagated identically from seed. Actually, regardless of what plant you are propagating by seed, the process is the same for seed starting.

Starting seeds is actually an easy process, but success only comes through many years of trial and error. I have been starting seeds indoors for the last ten years and thoroughly enjoy it. Since I start over 500 seedlings, including annuals, vegetables, and herbs, it does become a full-time hobby. The obvious advantages are the cost savings and the variety as opposed to purchasing seedlings at the garden center.

Most vegetable and annual flower seeds need to be started 6-8 weeks prior to your last expected frost. The exact timing can be found on the seed packets, but 6 weeks is usually a good rule of thumb. Trees and bushes need at least 6 months of growing in a pot before transplanting outdoors.

Never sow seeds deeper than twice their diameter. For small seeds, place them on the surface of the growing medium, and then lightly sprinkle the mix over the seed until it is barely covered. Water from the bottom to avoid disturbing the seed.

Larger seeds may need a little help to germinate, such as seeds with extremely hard shells that need broken down before sowing. These require soaking for 24 hours to break down the coating and improve germination. Another method is stratification; a process that entails nicking the seed with a sharp tool or rubbing the seed lightly on fine grit sandpaper.

Seedlings need to be in simulated sunshine for at least 14 hours per day. They also need 8 hours of dormancy for good growth. You either need to invest in fluorescent bulbs called gro-lights, which are as close to natural light as anything sold on the market, or substitute these with less expensive bulbs. By using one cool and one warm white fluorescent in combination, you will achieve the same effect.

If given the correct conditions, namely adequate moisture, strong light, and healthy soil, the plants will germinate and grow to maturity with few or any problems. To maintain moisture, seeds should be covered with plastic. I grow my seedlings in seed trays with individual cell packs. After sowing, I cover with a pre-fitted plastic dome. But once the first seedlings sprout, it is important to remove the cover to avoid damping-off disease. This is a fatal fungus disease which only attacks young seedlings, and is caused by inadequate air circulation and non-sterile soil. That is why I advise all those who start seeds indoors to only use sterile, soils mixes composed of vermiculite, perlite, and sphagnum moss. These mixes can be purchased at any reputable garden center.

Once the seedlings develop their second set of leaves, you can begin supplementing the plants with a diluted solution of fertilizer. Since you want to keep the nitrogen and salt levels low at this stage of growth, I highly recommend staying away from the chemical mixes. Rather, use a seaweed/fish emulsion formula at ¼ the recommended level. This will help the plants’ development and also help ward off disease. You can purchase these organic formulas at most garden centers or through online websites such as Gardens Alive.

Finally, be sure to keep your fluorescent lights no higher than 3” above the seedlings at all times. This is critical to prevent the plants from becoming weak and spindly. As I mentioned earlier, they should be left on 14 hours per day. If fluorescent lighting is not possible, put them in a southwest window and turn them every three days to avoid leaning.

I am attaching a few websites that should prove helpful. I would also advise you to purchase “The New Seed-Starters Handbook” by Nancy Bubel. It has many good ideas and techniques that benefit even experienced gardeners.
Copied from MIKE

INDONESIA SPICES

Sago, an interesting but underutilized ethanol crop

The true sago palm, Metroxylon sagu, has been described as mankind's oldest food plant with the starch contained in the trunk used as a staple food in southeast Asia. Traditionally, hunter-gatherers use a complex and labor-intensive process of felling the tree, splitting it open, removing the starch and cleaning out its poisonous substances, after which it is ready to be consumed. The starch itself is very nutritious and some of us may have even tasted it because tapioca flour is made from it.
As these sago-growing hunter-gatherers migrate to the cities, they abandon their healthy starch-rich diet and choose for fat and sugar food habits that don't differ much from ours.

But the sago palm remains, in the wild. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), which strives towards diversifying the world's agricultural crop base and maximizing the potential of less known plant species, considers the palm to be a typical "underutilized" crop. It published an easily accessible but comprehensive study about sago[*.pdf], in its series about "neglected and underutilized species". The study shows the potential of the crop, where and how it is currently used, which barriers there are to increasing its use, and which environmental problems could be associated with its cultivation.

One of the potential uses of the sago palm is ethanol. Throughout its lifecyle, the tree accumulates vast amounts of starch, reaching a maximum when it is about 15 years old, right before its (single) inflorescence occurs. In the wild, around 5 tonnes of starch per hectare can be harvested, but plantations show starch yields of up to 30 tonnes per year.

More importantly, the starch is of such a quality that ethanol conversion efficiencies of up to 72% can be obtained (for hydrated ethanol). Taking an optimistic yield of 20 tons of clean starch per hectare, this comes down to an alcohol yield of 14,400 litres, (1540 gallons per acre) making sago one of the most productive energy crops.

But this is theory. Contrary to palm oil, soya, coconut, cassava and most other tropical crops, sago suffers under a lack of research and development, most notably in crop improvement, phytopathology and plantation management techniques. Despite yearly symposia on sago, the palm has a long way to go before it will be used on a large scale.

Here and there, things are moving, though. The Malaysian government has started a 50,000 hectare plantation with sago palms in Sarawak, and considers it to be a crop with large potential for the development of a biofuels industry. Sago is set to become the second pillar [*.pdf] of Malaysia's bioenergy program.


This is just an introductory file which we will be updating regularly. Here at the BioPact we try to broaden the debate about biofuels, and we try to introduce underutilized crops into it.