SEAWEED DECLINE PRODUCTION IN SABAH

SEAWEED CULTIVATION was introduced in Sabah since 1978 and has increasingly become an economically important natural resource for Malaysia, particularly for Sabah. It was known to have wide application potentials similar or even better than other commodity such as cocoa and palm oil. Two significant seaweed-based industries had started and are developing at a moderate pace. These are seaweed cultivation or farming and the production of semi refined carragenan from seaweed. Beside the government agencies focusing on socio-economy development for rural peoples, there are private local companies venturing in seaweed processing and cultivation at larger scale in Semporna. Three methods of seaweed cultivation have been widely practiced and established in Sabah namely, raft system (MKII), stake system and long line system. The long line system is being widely practiced with approximately 95% of seaweed farmers employing this method. This blog "Anim Agriculture Technology" rewrite a report from NST regarding the declining in Sabah's seaweed farming production on January 2021 by a reporter Avila Geraldine for all readers. 

The town of Semporna in Sabah are popular with seaweed farm and production. Many folks cultivating seaweed to get source of income. Sabah is seeing a tremendous decline in seaweed farming entrepreneurs due to the global economic downturn. Since Sabah is seeing a tremendous decline in seaweed farming entrepreneurs due to the global economic downturn. According to Semporna Fishermen Association chairman Salleh Abdul Salleh, there were previously 600 families involved in seaweed cultivation with a production of between 600 - 800 tonnes per month. But by January 2021 reported that there are less than 100 families and they can only produce about 200 tonnes of seaweed per month. Seaweed farmers who left the industry have ventured into other areas such as agriculture, fishing, and construction.  Those who persevered are just waiting for turtle problems (attacks) to end. They depend on other sources of income from fisheries to survive and buy necessities as he told the New Straits Times reporter. The current Covid-19 pandemic saw the seaweed industry slowing down as a result of uncertainty in market prices, added Salleh. Apart from a 50 per cent drop in prices, seaweed buyer factories are facing tough times in exporting to other countries. In the past, local seaweed farmers exported their produce to China, Germany, and the Philippines. It was a lucrative business before.

However currently the declining industry saw 95 per cent of seaweed entrepreneurs in Sabah losing their income. A majority of seaweed farmers are from Semporna, while others are from Tawau and Lahad Datu. Most farmers are now facing turtle attacks too. Turtles are destroying fishermen's seaweed crops because it is one of their food sources. As a result from these (attacks), seaweed gets damaged and fall to the seabed. Seaweed also gets damaged due to diseases such as moss and 'ais-ais' (stem rot) as well as other factors such as the weather. Salleh said Malaysia was still far behind in development in the seaweed industry as it relies on conventional manpower methods instead of technology (See photo above). They see countries such as Indonesia, Taiwan, and Germany using high technology to harvest seaweed but in Malaysia, we are still depending on government allocations to provide us with platforms, ropes and boats. The government must conduct proper research and development with the cooperation of seaweed experts as well as local and foreign universities on cultivating systems and industry direction.  While noting the government should continue providing necessary allocations, he added that SIRIM Bhd should also design machines for cultivating, monitoring, harvesting and drying seaweed to speed up the production process. With this, Salleh also suggested the government to establish a board for the seaweed industry. He expressed optimistism that the industry could be rescued and intensified, and noted that the government should participate in the world seaweed organisation and find a reasonable seaweed market price according to the global market. All government plans to develop the seaweed industry must involve seaweed entrepreneurs. The 2021-2030 Seaweed Blueprint proposed by the Malaysian Fisheries Department and seaweed players must be implemented," said Salleh. He also urged Sabah Parks and the World Wildlife Fund to avoid releasing turtles near seaweed cultivation areas in order to prevent them from damaging these marine plants. Thanks. 

Source: NST

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(January 2021).