20th MARCH 2000

Fresh Tapioca Root arrivals is near to nil as Crop exhausted.
New Season expected in June-July 2000 only. 
Stock is about 80000 bags at Society. About 4 lacs bags (both as, ready to sale or crushed milk stored in the tanks) in the hands of capable manufacturers & Merchants. Feedback from customer market reports is that Sales is poor in high rates & demand may be reduce to 50% if rates grow more. 

From Samalkot, Mr. M. Venkat Rao, Hony. Secy., Samalkot Sago Manufacturers Association, informed that The Sago Manufacturers of Samalkot has been formed a Co-Operative Society, 
The Samalkot Sago Manufacturers Co-operative Society Ltd.
& have started Tender under the new Society. Currently, they have no godown facility, but have plans to store the goods in society's godowns in next season. 
currently, rates are Rs.1200 to Rs.1300 per bag of 90 kgs. at the society in Samalkot. 

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Average Daily Arrivals of Sago is about 6000 bags and Starch about 1000 bags. Root Season exhausted. At the same time, for Sago,demand from line buyers is very poor due to summer season. Main Period of demand is over now. Again proper domestic demand will start only after june-july. Pressure for Sale from Samalkot is continue. Ready Stock at Salem as well as with line buyers is poor, but expectation of early new arrivals of Root crop & report of large area cultivation is lowering the purchase interest. 

23rd APRIL 2000

Market slashed drastically for second quality Sago in last week. Arrivals changed to about 4000 bags of Sago and about 1500 bags of Starch. Buyers demand is poor. First Quality Sago market is steady due to rare stock. 

6th June 2000

Current Stock at The Sagoserve is for Sago, about 95000 bags and for Starch, about 15000 bags only. Arrivals of Tapioca Root started at KolliMalai. Rates are about Rs.180 per 70 Kgs.currently. 
       Last Week Arrest Warrants has been issued for two Sago Manufacturers for manufacturing Sago of un-edible quality by mixing hazardous chemicals to whitening the product. The Sagoserve has taken immediate steps to prevent this type of practice & issued circular to all it manufacturers for not to use any hazardous chemicals in sago production & also informed the Govt. authorities about the situation. It has been decided that from 16th June 2000 onwards, The Sagoserve will test the pH value of Sago before displaying in the tender sale and requested merchants not to buy inferior or rejected goods directly from the manufacturers.

19th June 2000

Approximate Current Stock at The Sagoserve today is SAGO about 80000 bags and STARCH about 11000 bags only. Current Tapioca Root Rates are Rs.160/165 per 70 Kgs. at Kollimalai (Salem Dt.).

The Sagoserve started to check the new arrivals for pH value for Sago only since 16th June 2000. The display at Tender for Sago Samples is divided in two categories as "After 16th June" and "Before 16th June". There is no any guarantee about quality of Sago except pH value and goods as per displayed in sample. They don't bother about genuineness of the product as without any other additives or chemicals. On assurance of The Sagoserve to test all the sago arrivals after 16th June for quality, Merchants has been suspended there purchase directly from manufacturers from 16th june to prevent chemical nuisance in Sago. 

Currently Sagoserve get monopoly of the sago trade at Salem, obviously market will go up. Merchants have to put tenders for their demands and arrivals will short due to pH testing. It will generate artificial scarcity & demand in buyers. On the other hand, the goods at Sagoserve, which are arrived before 16th june and un-tested (in which many lots are not fit for human consumption) will fetch good prices too. The game is dangerous from the consumers point of view.

Currently, there is no any sago quality test system except Recognised Laboratory Test done as per Indian standards already set for Sago. But, many reports are arriving daily from consumer centers of Maharastra, Madhya pradesh, Gujrat and Rajasthan that preparations ofKhichadi or Vada from Sago are not coming good as before and even worst, it becomes laddu or Halwa, when preparing Khichadi (even from sago which has been well tested & declared fit as per set Indian standards).

Click here to view Characteristics set for Sago !

Sabu Traders is always concerned about quality of Sago-Starch product and Fair Trade practices. In current circumstances, it is very painful to say that we are helpless. Until, Sagoserve and all sago manufacturers not concerned about food value of their product and not feel their moral responsibility for the product, the situation will prevail same. At the same time, consumers should avoid to pay more rate only on the basis of bright white colour of Sago. Sometimes, Shining white colour of Sago may be dangerous to their health, as it came to our notice (published in local news paper also) that some greedy manufacturers of sago are using some type of Optical brightners (one name is 2bcon), which is purely to use in industries like soap, soap powder, paper etc. & hazardous to human body, if intake orally. 

Click here to view SAVOSA test form !

28th June 2000

Current Stock at Sagoserve is very low as sago about 62000 bags and starch about 8500 bags only. Sago and starch market are up due to good demand at The Sagoserve. Daily tender Sales are more than daily arrivals and stock is reducing very fast. 

Tapioca Root rates is between Rs.180 to Rs.200 per 70 Kgs. Arrivals are poor. Demand from Line buyers are good. SPAC has started new production of quality starch of the season. 

5th July 2000

Stock at The Sagoserve has decreased very fast in last few days.  On 4th July, Arrivals was of Sago 4174 bags & starch 962 bags where as Sales was for Sago 7753 bags and for Starch 765 bags only.

Introduction of new category in Sago Tender at The Sagoserve:
 
The Board of Sagoserve has introduced from 3rd july 2000 a new category in daily Sago tender after a long consultation with The president of Merchants' Association and after testing the incoming lots since 16th june 2000 on trial & error basis, as " Sago for Other use". This category will consist the goods, which has arrived at The Sagoserve after 16th June 2000 and not rated good for human consumption at Laboratory test arranged by The Sagoserve.

First day, i.e. on 3rd July, there were only 4 lots of this type.
 
On 4th July, there were total 123 lots displayed for sago tender at The Sagoserve, in which 34 lots (Dummy no.1 to 34) were under category " After 16th June", 46 lots (Dummy no.35 to 80) were under category " For Other Use", and balance 44 lots (Dummy no.81 to 123) were marked as " Before 16th June". It is notable that there were only difference of Rs.10 to Rs.30 in similar quality under " After 16th June" and " For Other Use" sago. Later was sold at about Rs.10 to Rs.30 per bag less only.

On 5th July, in total 91 displayed lots at the sagoserve tender, 31 lots were (Dummy no.1 to 31) under category " After 16th June", 22 lots (Dummy no.32 to 53) were under category "For Other Use" and 38 lots (Dummy no.54 to 91) were marked as "Before 16th June".

It shows that moral level of salem sago trade and industry is dumbed down to slum. If the speed of progress will continue in the same direction and speed, we fear that in near future, we will say to our next generation that " Earlier, we had used Sago for food too and that was very tasty to eat" .

We salute Mr. Ramnathan, The Managing Director of The Sagoserve for trying hard to find out any "pucca" solution for this problem. But it is not possible without whole-hearted support of each and every manufacturer and merchant of sago.

A humble Request to end-consumers of SagoDon't ask for more and more white colour only. The original colour of Sago should be like cream of Milk i.e. a mixed colour of White and light yellow. Don't pay more for whiteness alone. Please see the colour chart below, the colours above green sign marks are light yellow and creamish colour. Also check at the time of purchasing sago that is the quality being supplied to you is of food variety sago or sago intended to use for other use as to prepare "kalaf "(Paste) or for any other industrial use only. It is important. Remember to take invoice for your purchases. It will help you in case of any complaint regarding quality.

15th July 2000

Currently Sago is only about 48000 bags and Starch is about 8000 bags unsold stock at the Sagoserve. Root arrivals is slow due to lack of rain.

Tapioca Root businessed per 70 Kgs. bag Rs.215 to 225, due to good demand. It is interesting to note that Sago & starch rates of upper range are steady and not increased so much, in comparison of middle or lower range goods, which has been shown an increase of about Rs.200 per bag in Sago & Rs.125 per bag in Starch.

The Sagoserve has renamed since 6th July, the Sago tender category " after 16th june" as "Edible Sago" and it is quite simple for buyers to understand about the next category, which has been defined as "for other use" as " not fit for edible purpose". But it is surprise to note that after knowing very well about the quality of other use category sago, buyers are quoting their tenders due to good demand and poor supply position. Also, manufacturers have not stopped the production of this type of goods due to good profit margin.

Business of this type of unedible sago in The sagoserve tender between 3rd July 2000 to 15th July 2000 was done for 8630 bags only at an average rate of Rs.1380 per bag i.e. total business about One Crore ninety Lacs has been done  within two weeks only for "other use" sago category. It is well known to all concerned that these lots will be sold to consumers as Sago (food purpose) only.

The Sagoserve has taken very strong action to prevent use of harmful chemicals in Sago and  displaying the sago samples separately in the tender after secret testing of each & every lot, for this purpose only.

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24th July 2000

STOCK (UNSOLD) AT THE SAGOSERVE
SAGO = About 36000 bags only
STARCH = About 3000 bags only
Tapioca Root arrivals are low. Rates for Tapioca Root has been touched an all-time-high to Rs.290 per bag of 70 Kgs.
Demands from Consumer centres for Sago is good due to Srawan. As the raw material is same for both (Sago & Tapioca Starch), rates of Tapioca Starch has also been increased considerably despite lack of any big demand from consumers.
As per statements of root cultivators, root output is low due to shortfall of Rain in concerned area. Also there is a chance of shortfall in coming season, due to virus attack in Root crops.

Sago "intended for other use" has been businessed at Sagoserve tenders
between 18th July to 22nd July for
total 4028 bags, cost valued about Rs.59.75 lakhs
i.e. at an average rate of Rs.1483 per bag + Taxes extra.

6th September 2000

STOCK (UNSOLD) AT THE SAGOSERVE 
SAGO = About 21000 bags only 
STARCH = About 1000 bags only 

Tapioca Root arrivals are low. Rates for Tapioca Root are Rs.240/250 per bag of 70/75 Kgs. 
Demands from Consumer centres are Good in anticipation of Navratri Sales.

Average daily Arrivals of Sago at The Sagoserve is about 3000 bags and daily Sales about 6000 bags.
As per this average, it seems that the Current Stock will last only for 7 days,
whereas New crop of Tapioca Root will arrive increasingly only after about one month i.e.
in the month of October 2000.

Sago Market has gone up by Rs.200 per bag approximately, within a short span of one week 
& may touch further new height, which will make a new record in history of Sago rates in India.

It is surprising to note that there is a common acceptance for sago "for other use" category,
displayed at sagoserve tender, by generally all merchants except some of them, who are more quality conscious or having high Morale. You will be pleased to note that your Sabu Traders are among the second category only.
We have not tendered for a single lot of "other use" sago, which is unfit for human consumption, since the introduction of this category at The Sagoserve. Till 30st August 2000 from 3rd August 2000 (introductory day of separate category of sago, which is unfit for human consumption, by Lab test, before displaying lots for Sale at The Sagoserve), total 21876 Bags businessed at an average rate of Rs. 1440 per bag. The Management of Sagoserve has proved officially that  the manufacturers are not only guilty for producing unhygienic-good looking, low quality sago, but at the same time merchants are also equally wrong by purchasing this type of sago & promoting business of hazardous food product.

The Election of Office bearers & Commitee Members of Salem Sago & Starch Merchants' Association, for the year 2000-2001, has been held on 24th August 2000 at Salem castle under presidentship of Shri Manubhai Mehta.
The newly elected body is as follows:

OFFICE BEARERS
PRESIDENT: Shri Sampatraj Chowdhary
VICE-PRESIDENT: Shri Saroj Kumar Jain
HONY. SECRETARY: Shri Gopal Sabu
JT. HONY. SECRETARY: Shri R.Raja
TREASURER: Shri Madukar Shah

15th September 2000

STOCK (UNSOLD) AT THE SAGOSERVE 
SAGO = About 9788 bags only 
STARCH = About 634 bags only 

MARKET AT SAGOSERVE TODAY:
AVERAGE BUSINESSED RATE:
SAGO: Rs.1901   STARCH: Rs.1320

HIGHEST BUSINESSED RATE:
SAGO: Rs.2069   STARCH: Rs.1404

Tapioca Root arrivals are low. Rates for Tapioca Root are Rs.290/300 per bag of 70/75 Kgs. 
Demands from Consumer centres are Good in anticipation of Navratri Sales.

Average daily New Arrivals of Sago at The Sagoserve is about 1500 bags and daily Sales about 2500 bags.
As per this average, it seems that the Current Stock will last only for 7-8 days,
whereas New crop of Tapioca Root will arrive increasingly only after about 20 days i.e.
in the month of October 2000.

Sago Market has gone up by Rs.300 per bag approximately, within a short span of Ten days 
&  made a new record in history of Sago rates in India.

22nd September 2000

SAGO MARKET nose dived by more than Rs.200 Per Bag in a week.

The unprecented hike of rates in last week was due to
tuff competition amongst merchants to procure goods to supply their orders
in time before Navratri. The unique type tender system at The Sagoserve helped to raise the rates beyond practical norms of marketing . The high rates at The Sagoserve, immediately reflected in increased Tapioca Root rates.

As in abnormal high rates, buyers were cautious in purchase, the demand slowed down and even having minimum stock in sagoserve history, market faced a speedy slash within a week for about Rs. 200 to Rs. 250 per bag.

The daily new arrivals of sago at the sagoserve is about 2500 bags only.
 Tapioca Root businessed @Rs.200/240 per bag of 70/75 kgs.

on 22nd September 2000
STOCK (UNSOLD)
AT THE SAGOSERVE 

SAGO = About 6854 bags only 
STARCH = About 1148 bags only 

MARKET TODAY:

AVERAGE RATES
(BUSINESSED ONLY):
SAGO: Rs.1743   STARCH: Rs.1267

HIGHEST RATES
(BUSINESSED ONLY):
SAGO: Rs.1859   STARCH: Rs.1339

25th October 2000

New arrivals of sago at the sagoserve is about 4000 bags only.
Tapioca Root businessed @Rs.160/180 per bag of 70/75 kgs.

on 25th October 2000
CLOSING STOCK (UNSOLD)
AT THE SAGOSERVE 
SAGO = About 5635 bags only 
STARCH = About 3343 bags only 

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30th November 2000

SAGO-STARCH MARKET
DOWN BY MORE THAN 150 Rs. PER BAG
IN LAST FORTNIGHT.

Approximate Closing Stock at The Sagoserve
as on 30th November 2000
Sago = 7780 bags and
Starch = 1750 bags only.

New arrivals of sago is about 7000 bags daily.
Demand is slow and daily sales is about equal to arrivals.
As per experts Opinion, rates may further decrease by Rs.50 to Rs.100
Per bag in next fortnight due to supply pressure.

Tapioca Root arrivals is slow and may improve in next fortnight.
 Currently Tapioca Root businessed @Rs.150/180 per bag of 70/75 kgs.

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