The Signing of MoUBetween IPB and LPMAK on Sago in Mimika, Papua
LembagaPengembanganMasyarakatAmungmeKamoro(LPMAK- AmungmeKamoroCommunity Development Organization), Papua and InstitutPertanian Bogor (IPB- BogorAgricultural University) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development of sago industry in Mimika, Papua. The signingof the MoUwas held on Thursday, 25 April 2013, at IPB International Convention Center (IICC).
Vice-Rector for Research and Cooperation of IPB, Prof.Dr.Ir.AnasMiftahFauzi stated in his remarks stated that the potential of Indonesiansagois so enormous. "But the potential of our sago is the legacy of our ancestors, therefore we do not understand well the seedling technology and its cultivation to maintain good quality of sago. Papua has the potential of sago which is very unusual, but has not been widely explored. Sago development is a challenge for experts as how to process sago easily, as if we want to steam rice, "explains Prof.Anas.
According to Prof.Anas, in 1997-1999, IPB established emergency food stations in Papua. Unfortunately the program had terminated. Further, Prof.Anasstated that the present MoUis expected to be the comprehensive collaboration for the sustainability management of sago. "If Sago Vocational School (SMK) tolearn sago and the technology for sago industryis needed, IPB will be there to provide experienced expertise to set up vocational school, particularly the agricultural vocational schools, "he said.
Chairman of the Sago Team of IPB, Prof.Dr.HasimBintoro stated. "The potential of sago has not optimallybeen managed by indigenous tribes inPapua,they need only need two or three sago palms for the consumption of the family. Moreover, they prefer to cut down sago palm treesat the edge of the main road down the road. While the other 6 million tonnes of sago in the forestsare intact due to the difficult terrain. When we utilize sago as raw material for sugar, ethanol, and so forth, can certainly improve the lives of people in there, "explained Prof. Bintoro.
LPMAK Executive Secretary, Mr.Emanuel Kemong, in his remarks stated that staple food of almost the entire peopleof Papuan is sago, except for several tribes their staple food is sweet potatoes. "Indigenous lands in West Papua have been targeted by Jakarta for further oil palm development in, such situation has endangered the existence of sago plantations.The largest development is a vast thousand hectares hamlet of sago in Mimika, Papua," said Emanuel.
According to Emanuel, it is unfortunate that the community decided to convert their lands into the oil palm cultivation without considering the future of their staple food. "We then exploringthe most appropriate institutions to maintainthe sustainability of sago for the people of Papua. We considered that IPBwill be themost appropriate institution for such project. I can not imagine what will happen in the next ten years for Papua without sago. We expect that the cooperation will enable us to develop the sago processing, as well as how we cultivate the sago plantations, "Statement of the Executive Secretary LPMAK in his concluding remarks. (Wied).
