Sago has long been considered to be a potential food crop in Indonesia, but the government and people have given most of their attention to rice, resulting in inadequate attention to the development and farming of sago in the province of Riau, Indonesia. A study to analyze the potential and prospects for the development of sago agribusiness was conducted at Tanjung village, one of the sago production centers in Riau. The results show that sago agribusiness has a strong regional potential as an alternative crop for food and as a base material for agro-industries. The development of sago agribusiness would support food diversification and agro-industries and, consequently, lead to increased economic activity of all of those involved.

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 Intensive development on the vast peatlands of Sarawak has been planned for sago cultivation. Nevertheless, a number of unanticipated problems in large-scale sago cultivation have been highlighted−one of which is the trunking ability of sago palms. This study attempts at examining the relationship between the physical and chemical properties of peat against the growth pattern of sago palms. For this purpose, soil samples, water table data and palm growth were studied and analyzed at both trunking and non-trunking blocks on the Dalat Sago Plantation. The results revealed that the soils in the trunking blocks invariably contained higher levels of ash (minerals) and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) needed to support the normal growth and trunking of palms. These mineral and nutrient contents were found to decrease from the periphery to the center of a peat dome. The productivity of cultivated palms was also compared with the degree of peat humification. No significant correlation was observed for these variables. The prevailing deficiency of nutrients in the soils of the non-trunking block suggests that supplementary nutrient input would be imperative.

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 Before the emergence of rice, sago was the main source of sustenance for the inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago because its desiccated starchy products could be stored for long periods. Sago palms can be found growing wild in marshlands where plantation and agronomic crops are difficult to grow. They are abundant in some parts of Mindanao, especially in the provinces of Agusan. In Leyte, sago palms are common along the creeks, valleys, and streams of fresh water and marshlands, which are infested with schistosomes. Recently, the palms have been found in the towns of Dulag, Palo, Tanauan, Sta Fe, Alangalang, Burauen, Julita, Pastrana, Mahaplag, and Jaro. Alangalang has the most number of sago palms with approximately more than 20 hectares of aggregate clumps and forests. On the other hand, patches or clumps of sago palms were observed in the towns of Carcar, Argao, Sibonga, Samboan, and Ginatilan of Cebu Province.
 Sago is underutilized in the Philippines, while, in neighboring countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, it is considered to be the “staff of life” because of its numerous applications. The major use of sago palms in the Philippines is for roofing materials. The leaves of small palms and those that could still be reached by farmers are cut and weaved in a 1-meter bamboo split. Sago shingles are more durable than nipa, which lasts from 8 to 10 years. Sago leaves are also used for the walls of small huts or shanties. Midribs are used for making brooms and weaving baskets. The barks of the petiole are stripped and woven into amacan (weaving mat) for walls of houses and cottages.
 Although the edible sago starches are accumulated in the trunk of the palms, which are used for food, especially during lean months when rice and other foods are unavailable, sago starches are generally made into sago pearls for making Filipino delicacies, such as palagsing or suman (sago starch mixed with coconut milk or coconut meat shreds and sugar wrapped with coconut leaves or banana leaves) and sweetened landang or benignit (sago porridge mixed with glutinous rice, rootcrops, ripe table banana, sugar, and coconut milk).
 Hard fiber bark is used for walls and floors, temporary passageways for irrigating rice fields, and firewood. Waste from starch extraction is used to feed hogs and other animals and for garden compost and fertilizer.

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