Sago festival coming to Dalat

The Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, through the Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB), will organise the 2024 Balau Carnival in Dalat.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom said that the biennial event aims to raise awareness about the importance of sago among the local community in Dalat district.

“The theme of the carnival is ‘Berakar Rumbia Berinti Budaya,’ and it is tentatively scheduled to be held in Dalat in October 2024,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday (May 14).

Dr. Rundi said that the objectives of the carnival include empowering the sago industry in Sarawak and ensuring continued focus on the development of upstream and downstream technologies to establish sago as one of Sarawak’s major commodities.

“Furthermore, it aims to strengthen the socio-economic status of local communities and serve as a platform to foster unity and cooperation among them,” he added.

In addition, Dr. Rundi said that to advance the sago industry in Sarawak, his ministry, in collaboration with the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI), will organise the 15th International Sago Symposium in Kuching from September 23 to 26.

The theme for this symposium is ‘Unlocking the Potential of Sago Palm: Towards Sustainable Food Systems and Environmental Restoration.

The objectives of the symposium are to elevate global awareness and acceptance of cultivating sago palm and to promote alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The event will gather researchers from around the world to share their findings, ultimately contributing to the future growth and development of the sago industry,” he added.