Socio-economic factors that have influenced the decline of sago consumption in small islands: a case in Rural Maluku, Indonesia

Even though the cost of rice tends to increase due to uncertain production, unpredictable climate change, water shortage and limited productive rice land, around 95% of Indonesian people still depend on rice as a staple food. In Maluku Province, there are around 52,000 ha of sago forest, and potentially able to produce carbohydrate of more than 268 kg/capita/year for 1.55 million of the Maluku population. Sago and other local foods were the main staple food for the local community. However, sago consumption has decreased considerably whilst rice consumption has increased significantly in the last decade. The objectives of this study were to identify the potential of sago production and socio-economic factors to influence the decline of sago consumption. Data was collected from 75 farmer households in three sago villages by using mix methods including interviews, field observation and focus group discussion. Research results show that household expenditure for sago consumption was 5.4%, 2.4% and 0.8% in selected villages, whilst rice consumption increased up to 15.8%, 20.8% and 38.6% respectively in the same villages. The decline of sago consumption relates to national rice policies and the social and cultural perception of sago. This suggests that a food security should be revitalized, otherwise dependency on imported rice will become a threat to regional food security sustainability in the small islands of Maluku