An allocation of RM20 million from both the State and Federal Government will be used for the development of sago industry this year.
According to Deputy Chief Minister YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during the 13th International Sago Symposium on October 3rd, he will discuss a proposal on setting up an international sago research centre in Sarawak.
“The challenges remain in the improvement in quality of sago starch and added-value sago products in order to compete in the global market, not only in the up-stream areas but also the down-stream,” said YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
Stressing the need for intensive research and development in the sago industry, more research needs to be done on how to increase the sago starch yield, reducing the gestation period of sago to a shorter period and the cost of sago production as well as a continuous effort on innovation for the latest extraction technology.
As of now, Sarawak is the world’s biggest sago exporter, exporting about 25, 000 to 40, 000 tonne of sago products globally.
“There are big potential and yet to be tapped and exploited, so I do not think that sago industry is a sunset industry. I am sure that research will move forward in making sure sago itself will become zero waste crops,” said YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
He said that since the establishment of the Centre of Sago Research, numerous research results and development work has been done to convert sago waste materials generated by sago palm industries into products with commercial value.
During the opening ceremony, UiTM launched the Genserai Bungai Eco beads made from sago fiber clay.
A commercial research product of UiTM Sarawak, the beads are introduced as a new media for making ceramic beads which are said to be 20 per cent lighter, durable and translucent in appearance.
Themed “Partnership in Cooperation and Management of Sago Palm”, the 13th International Sago Symposium was organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak from October 2nd to 6th as a platform for researchers and stakeholders from the sago regions to address the issues and challenges of sago development.
