Is a cooperative approach to seaweed farming effectual? An analysis of the seaweed cluster project (SCP), Malaysia

Abstract

Seaweed (Kappaphycus spp.) farming has been practised in Malaysia since the late 1970s following government policy incentives (training and farming inputs). However, numerous governance, economic, environmental, technological and sociocultural challenges have limited the industry from achieving its full potential. The Seaweed Cluster Project (SCP) was introduced in 2012 to address some of these challenges. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the SCP in delivering its central objectives of increasing seaweed production, optimising the farming area, improving seaweed quality and farming efficiency, raising farmers' income, and reducing the environmental impact of seaweed farming. Community and industry perceptions of the SCP were obtained from seven communities using a mixed-methods approach based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, observation and secondary data. Views on the SCP outcomes were generally negative, including low take-up rates by indigenous people, poor stakeholder participation in decision-making, limited acceptance of new technologies, economic vulnerability, a complex marketing system, and low social cohesion of seaweed farming communities. Positive perceptions included recognition that the SCP confers high social status upon a community, reduces operating costs, and facilitates the production of certified seaweed. The SCP's problems are linked to poor multi-level governance, weak market mechanisms and unintegrated community development. The study concludes with five recommendations to improve the SCP: promote the participation of indigenous people; legalise existing migrant farmers; strengthen local seaweed cooperative organisations; provide entrepreneurship skills to farmers; and fully integrate stakeholders into decision-making.

Women in Malaysian Seaweed Industry: Motivations and Impacts

“…In Malaysia, Sabah is the only state which produces seaweed at a commercial scale (26,076 tonnes in 2015) (Adibi et al 2016), and seaweed cultivation could potentially become one of the contributors to the country's income. Consequently, the Malaysian government has identified seaweed as one of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).…”

An analysis of the current status and future of biosecurity frameworks for the Indonesian seaweed industry

“…systems for reportable/notifiable diseases and disease surveillance). Given the issues of miscommunication between national and regional governments, it is suggested that farmers may benefit from establishing groups (Nor et al 2017), or utilizing associations (e.g. Indonesian Seaweed Association ARLI or ASTRULI), so they can communicate and share the information regarding cultivation challenges and receive updates on innovations and related actions to mitigate for disease and pest outbreaks (Neish 2013;Neish et al 2017).…”

“…Indonesian Seaweed Association ARLI or ASTRULI), so they can communicate and share the information regarding cultivation challenges and receive updates on innovations and related actions to mitigate for disease and pest outbreaks (Neish 2013;Neish et al 2017). In 2014, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) took proactive action and published better management practices (BMP) together collaborated with local seaweed farmers in promoting sustainable fisheries and responsible aquaculture for supporting the SNI initiative (Nor et al 2017). Collaborations between academia, government and industry to share information are also crucial to building biosecurity capacity amongst the Indonesian seaweed community.…”

Techno-Economics of Seaweed Farming Along the Coasts of Kelantan, East Coast Peninsular Malaysia

“…This provided resources for the Seaweed Cluster Project (SCP) initiated in 2012 by the Sabah Fisheries Department and the Mini-Estate programme. An excellent evaluation of the SCP was published by Nor et al (2016). The SCP was given the mandate to increase seaweed production, optimize farming area, improve seaweed quality and farming efficiency, while enhancing income of farmers, and reducing the environmental impact of seaweed farming (Nor et al, 2016).…”

“…An excellent evaluation of the SCP was published by Nor et al (2016). The SCP was given the mandate to increase seaweed production, optimize farming area, improve seaweed quality and farming efficiency, while enhancing income of farmers, and reducing the environmental impact of seaweed farming (Nor et al, 2016). The evaluation exercise carried out by Mr. Adibi M. Nor showed that the "SCP outcomes were generally negative".…”