Traditional methods of sago palm management in the Purari Delta of Papua New Guinea

Ulijaszek S.J., . (1991) Traditional methods of sago palm management in the Purari Delta of Papua New Guinea. [Proceedings Paper]

The Baroi people of the Purari Delta of Papua New Guinea have traditionally cultivated sago palm Metroxylon species for dietary subsistence and for a limited amount of trade. They distinguish 12 varieties of the species which are or have been cultivated. In 1947 three Baroi villages moved site and merged to form the new village of Koravake. One consequence of this move was the establishmet of new sago gardens close to the new village. Investigations into sago palm management and starch yield of different cultivars were carried out in 1980. It was possible to distinguish one old garden pre-1847 from gardens planted soon after resettlement and those planted less than two years ago and to compare the number and types of cultivars planted by three generations of Baroi. Planting density was highest in the oldest garden lowest in the newest ones 65 palms/1000 m2 compared with 20 -22 palms/1000 m2. In the pre-1974 gardens 12 cultivars were found growing whilst in the post-1947 gardens a maximum of six were seen. Gardens planted less than two years previously contained a maximum of three cultivars. The decline in the number of cultivars over successive generations is attributed to selection of varieties on the basis of starch yield and on the physical effort needed to process a trunk of a particular cultivar

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Abstract

The Baroi people of the Purari Delta of Papua New Guinea have traditionally cultivated sago palm Metroxylon species for dietary subsistence and for a limited amount of trade. They distinguish 12 varieties of the species which are or have been cultivated. In 1947 three Baroi villages moved site and merged to form the new village of Koravake. One consequence of this move was the establishmet of new sago gardens close to the new village. Investigations into sago palm management and starch yield of different cultivars were carried out in 1980. It was possible to distinguish one old garden pre-1847 from gardens planted soon after resettlement and those planted less than two years ago and to compare the number and types of cultivars planted by three generations of Baroi. Planting density was highest in the oldest garden lowest in the newest ones 65 palms/1000 m2 compared with 20 -22 palms/1000 m2. In the pre-1974 gardens 12 cultivars were found growing whilst in the post-1947 gardens a maximum of six were seen. Gardens planted less than two years previously contained a maximum of three cultivars. The decline in the number of cultivars over successive generations is attributed to selection of varieties on the basis of starch yield and on the physical effort needed to process a trunk of a particular cultivar

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	4 tables; 9 refs.; Summary En
AGROVOC Term:	METROXYLON
AGROVOC Term:	PAPUA NUEVA GUINEA
AGROVOC Term:	TECNOLOGIA TRADICIONAL
AGROVOC Term:	VARIEDADES
AGROVOC Term:	CULTIVO
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:26
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/14891

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