Seize opportunities in seaweed industry — Ramlee
SEMPORNA: People here are urged to seize the opportunity from the potential of the seaweed industry in this district as well as utilizing government’s efforts to expand the industry.
Assistant Minister of Finance Datuk Ramlee Marahaban said this industry provided opportunities to the local community to increase their income and overcome poverty.
Ramlee said the people here were lucky not only because Semporna owned potential treasures but also because the government always provided assistance through various methods and programmes.
“The government has implemented various programmes through ministries and departments such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) and Fisheries Department to assist the seaweed breeders.
“Programmes undertaken by the ministry and department could promote the industry and provide benefits to the people,” he said.
Ramlee who is also the assemblyman for Bugaya, said this at the soft launch of Seaweed Splash 2018 Programme on Saturday.
According to Ramlee, the efforts carried out by the ministry and the department could also increase the current price of seaweed and promote the tourism industry in Semporna.
He said various efforts had been initiated before but there was less participation from the people, thus the objective of the programme could not be achieved.
Therefore, he hoped the people would truly understand and utilize the opportunity that has been provided by the government.
Ramlee also reminded entrepreneurs to continue their efforts and follow the guideline by the ministry to further expand the seaweed industry.
He added that efforts to expand the potential of the seaweed industry should be continued even though the seaweed industry had entered the global market.
Meanwhile, Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi said Sabah, located at the Coral triangle, was among the contributors to the Rhodophyceae species for the biopolymer production of Karagenan.
Munir said in 2016, about 260,000 metric tons of seaweed worth RM44 million were produced and became the source of income to 1,200 breeders in Sabah.
He said under the national nutrition policy, seaweed had been identified as a high-value commodity that could contribute to fish production and national export.
Following the encouragement, 10 mini estates (eight in Semporna, two in Kunak) and six clusters (five in Semporna, one in Tawau) have been established to combine the small entrepreneurs in groups. This effort has successfully increased their income of more than RM1,500 per month.
“Opportunities to increase economy in this industry are big and there are many opportunities that could be developed in this industry.
“Various efforts and programmes can be implemented to provide economic and social opportunities for the people,” he said, adding that two more clusters had been established in Semporna.
Munir also added that efforts undertaken by the government would never stop as the efforts had successfully given impact economically and socially.