Women's well-being and household benefits from seaweed farming in Indonesia

Larson, Silva; Stoeckl, Natalie; Fachry, Mardiana E.; Mustafa, Muhammad Dalvi; Lapong, Imran; Purnomo, Agus Budi; Rimmer, Michael A.; Paul, Nicholas A.

doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735711

Cited by 44 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Seaweed propagules (small clumps of seaweed from the previous harvest) are tied to the main lines with short lengths of string ('tie-ties') at about 20 cm intervals [6]. 'Tying-on' is done onshore, and typically involves female labour [14]. After the propagules are tied on, the lines are returned to the sea and tended daily or every few days to check growth and predation of the seaweed and to remove biofouling.…”

Section: Seaweed Farming and Value Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In South Sulawesi and some other parts of Indonesia, Caulerpa is sold directly to local markets and used as a salad vegetable [48,49]. Local markets also sell dried Kappaphycus and Eucheuma which are purchased by consumers who rehydrate these dried seaweeds for use in their own dishes and for cooking at home, and in some areas markets also sell a range of seaweed-based 'snack' products [14].…”

Section: Seaweed Farming and Value Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the main potential negative personal and social effects of seaweed farming reported in the international literature are health impacts [55,56]. In contrast, a wellbeing study in Indonesia found no evidence of negative health impacts from seaweed farming [14]. In addition, women reported no negative impacts from additional income, such as spending on social ills or increases in family violence [14] and no evidence of marital discontent as a result of financial distributions [11].…”

Section: Production Costs Are Lowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most seaweed farmers in studies in Indonesia report diversified sources of income. Of 74 women in nine seaweed farming villages of Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, 54% reported seaweed farming as an important household activity, and 37% of women reported seaweed farming as the main household activity, generating 50% or more of their household income [14]. The remaining participants came from households primarily engaged in agriculture, fishing and fish aquaculture or with small businesses.…”

Section: Economic Benefits Are Variable But Generally Positivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In response to these cycles, seaweed farmers often move between seaweed farming and other livelihood activities, such as fishing [10]. Importantly, seaweed farming is still perceived by local communities who engage in this practice to be a major contributor to wellbeing and livelihoods [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seaweed Aquaculture in Indonesia Contributes to Social and Economic Aspects of Livelihoods and Community Wellbeing

et al. 2021

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Seaweed farming in Indonesia is carried out throughout much of the archipelago and is mainly undertaken by smallholder farmers. Indonesia is the largest global producer of the red seaweeds Kappaphycus and Eucheuma, which are used to produce carrageenan, and is a major producer of Gracilaria, which is used to produce agar. Seaweed farming is attractive to farmers in rural coastal communities because capital and operating costs are low, farming techniques are not technically demanding, labour requirements are relatively low (allowing farmers to engage in other livelihoods), and production cycles are short (30–45 days), providing regular income. Using reported values for seaweed-farming income, we conclude that seaweed farming can, but does not always, lift rural households above the Indonesian poverty line. In addition to direct financial benefits, seaweed farming also contributes to human and social capital within seaweed farming households and communities. Achieving continued economic and social benefits from seaweed farming will require additional policy development, as well as research and development to support improved and more consistent seaweed productivity and improved product quality at the farm level, provision of effective extension and technical support services, and diversification of the existing value chains in order to reduce the impacts of price fluctuations that are associated with limited global commodity chains.

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Section: Seaweed Farming and Value Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seaweed Farming and Value Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%