Sago Drowning in its Own Land

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Yohanes Sapulette produces sago on Sunday (5/5/2019) in Masihulan village, North Seram district, Central Maluku. The number of sago makers is declining due to the decreasing demand for sago as a food source.

Mama Fani, 35, and Mama Punusa, 40, had just arrived at their “house” that had woka palm leaves as roofing and no wall beside the Tayawi River in the Aketajawe Lolobata National Park, North Maluku.

For the previous month, their families – members of the Tobelo Dalam tribe – had lived in the forest to search for dammar resin, boars, deer and sago. Some of these are for themselves and some are for sale.