'from little things, big things grow'
I’ve been out in a pretty remote part of the Gulf Province in Papua New Guinea, following the story of a sago project that has been established to help ease the burden of the painstakingly laborious work of manual sago production, and to (hopefully) inspire an industry that can take advantage of an under utilised natural resource.
So I've decided to record a series of video blogs to share the journey I’m embarking on as part of a bigger plan to help shed some light on the humble sago palm which has so many uses and the potential to create an industry that benefits local communities across the region, especially women and girls.
Did you know:
Sago palms are immune to floods, drought, fire and strong winds. The large fibrous root system traps silt loads and removes pollutants, faecal contaminants and heavy metals. Sago forest acts as an excellent carbon sink for carbon sequestration, thereby mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Sago palm is an abundant, naturally occurring plant in PNG, and is a staple food source for many people. It self propagates and grows in swampy regions where other plants do not fare well.
The leaves of the sago palm are also used for thatching, and there is potential for the waste plant matter from the starch extraction to be dried and utilised as a fuel source (ethanol).
I am learning that the sago palm is quite incredible, and it's certainly a surprise that it remains such an untapped resource here in Papua New Guinea, especially when there is an estimated 1 million ha in the country.
Vlog 1:
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