Difference between revisions of "Arenga westerhoutii"

The mak tao seed is popularly used in desserts and ice-cream in Laos and Thailand. Young shoots or leaf buds (sometimes called ‘mak tao cabbage’) are an edible local delicacy. Leaves are used as roofing and packing material while a sweet drink can be tapped from the top of the male flowers and made into palm wine. In Laos the seeds are harvested by climbing trees and cutting down fruit clusters. The hair on these clusters should be avoided as it can cause itchiness. The top of the male inflorescence is cut and closed with clay for two days, after which it is removed by making a second cutting and the sweet drink is collected. If kept in bamboo containers for another two days, a wine is formed. Within 50 m of streams, densities of 120 mature trees/ha are common. Yields can be 200 kg-300 kg fruit/tree, and 10 kg of fruit provides 3 kg-3.5 kg of seed. Trees produce seed after 13 years, after which they fruit again every two years. After three or four harvests a tree dies. Natural, and village ownership; semi-open access.Seed is extracted by splitting the fruit, which is done in the forest to ease transport. Extraction should be performed in the shade to preserve quality. The seeds are then boiled and can be kept in bags for 18-20 days, provided moisture and sunlight are avoided. The Keoviengkham company in Ban Kheun cans the seeds. Shoots are cooked in a variety of local soups. In Thailand, seeds are boiled in syrup and dried before being packed into 100 gram bags. Slightly immature fruit produces the best seeds. When seeds turn red and start to ferment, their value drops. Most mak tao fruit is exported to Thailand to make sweets. In 2000, 600 tonnes went that way at US$0.33-$0.54 per kg. The biggest buyer in Thailand is Lampang Foods, which buys 5,000 tonnes per year from farmers at about $0.3 per kg. The price in Xieng Khong, Thailand, opposite Bokeo, is $0.4 per kg. After processing in Thailand the value jumps to $2 (possibly a retail price). Export of canned fruit to Thailand is limited by high import tax, which is not applied to raw fruit. Locally, fruit is sold for $0.2 per kg (2005). Palm shoots are found on local markets at $0.3-$2 per kg (2004). One hectare could yield about 12,000 kg21,000 kg of seed, equivalent at current prices to $3,300$5,800 per ha. The Thai tax barrier is the main obstacle to developing a processing industry in Laos. All fruit harvested in Laos comes from wild trees. In the wild, seeds are spread by wildlife eating the fruit, especially civet cats. For domestication, mature fruit is cleaned before planting and germination lasts three weeks, with a 75% survival rate. Spacing of 6 m x 9 m under the shade of other plants is recommended in order to maintain soil moisture.