A study on the use of the sugar palm tree (Borassus flabellifer) for different purposes in Cambodia
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Date
1996
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Publisher
Swedish University of Agricultural science
Abstract
This thesis is based on two studies carried out in two different districts of the Kandal and
Takeo provinces in Cambodia where a dense populations of the sugar palm (Borassus
flabellifer) are found. The aim of the studies was to understand the sugar palm tree and the
traditional pig production systems .The studies comprised quantification of sugar palm juice
production and the use of palm juice as an energy feed for pigs. A participatory study was
conducted in five villages to determine the profitability of sugar syrup production and of pig
production based on sugar palm juice. The further study consisted of a feeding trial in which
the growth performance of crossbred pigs M diets consisting of palm juice and boiled whole
soya beans with a supplement of water was evaluated. Sugar palm is considered as one of the high potential multipurpose trees in the tropics, and
produces valuable carbohydrates without any agronomic inputs. A total of 105 male and
female sugar palm trees were studied during a period of five months, the results
demonstrating that a palm tree produces seasonally an average of 5 kg of juice per day with
a Brix value (approximate sugar content) of 13.3%. Assuming that the canopy of a palm tree
is 50 m2, a hectare of 200 trees will seasonally produce approximately 150,000 kg of juice
per year. Sugar palm syrup production is one of the two main activities of. most rural Cambodian
farmers after rice growing. The activity commences in December with the preparation of
materials for sugar syrup production: The^most expensive component in the cost of sugar
syrup production is fire wood which is difficult to get today.-It was clearly shown during the
present study that when fire wood was purchased from the market four of seven farmers lost
an average 27 Riels per day (1 SUS =2,350 Riels) here were no significant differences between days in the yield of juice and Brix value
(approximate sugar content) (P=0.390 and P=0.534), respectively. How^vey.there was a
highly significant difference in the yield ofjuice and Brix value (叫proximate suagr content)
between families, months and sex of the palm tree (P<0.001) and a ^ignifi^antidjfference in
Brix value (approximate sugar content) between male and female trees (1^=0.005). Seventy two crossbred pigs comprising Yorkshire, Landrace and local pigs raised from 20*80
kg on ]2 farms. The main energy source was palm juice fed restrictly. A daily amount of
400g soya beans of protein source were and daily supplement of 0.5 kg of water spinach and
lime and salt were given. The average daily weight gain of the pigs of the twelve farmers was
356 g (range 320-417 g) and there were no statistically significant differences in live weight
gains between fams (P=0.735). The demand for meat increases as the population grows, and the living standards improve.
Therefore, the new technique to feed pigs with sugar palm juice is an alternative and
interesting source of income for rurat communities in Cambodia. In addition, it will create
work for the farmers and reduce the migration to the cities and simultaneously improves the
use of local resources increasing the sustainability of agriculture.
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Thesis
Keywords
Borassus flabellifer, Multipurpose, Pigs, Palm juice, Fire wood, Brix value, Sugar palm, Soya beans, Sustainable production.