Income

Generation from Yaqeta Seaweed Farm

Fiji Hub Achievement Report
October 2014
Objective: Income Generation

In September 2014 seaweed farmers in the Northern Yasawas made their first sale to a Seaweed
exporter. Since 2013 GVI have worked alongside the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and the local
community of Yaqeta Village to help create, maintain and harvest the Yaqeta seaweed farm. This
pilot project has successfully created an alternative income source for 15 families in the region.

7.7 tonnes of seaweed harvested

income received by 15 farmers and their families
296 volunteer hours contributed by GVI

Throughout 2014 community members in the Northern Yasawas have worked hard to ensure that
seaweed farming became a viable alternative livelihood for their families. The type of seaweed being
farmed is Kappaphycus Alvarezzi which produces carrageenan, a gelling and setting agent. The global
demand for this type of seaweed greatly outstrips supply, with China requiring 3000 tonnes per
month. During 2013, GVI and the Ministry of Fisheries collaborated to create a seaweed nursery and
model farm in the Nacula Tikina, close to Yaqeta and Vuaki villages. The support and guidance
provided by this partnership has facilitated the development of seaweed farming as a local industry
within the district. The volcanic islands of the Yasawas Islands have limited natural water catchment
potential and continue to experience an increasingly long dry season which has impacted both water
security and the viability of localised agriculture. With coral health noticeably declining resulting in
reduced fish stocks the viability of the traditional Yasawan livelihoods based around fishing have

been negatively impacted. Seaweed cultivation in the shallow lagoons of the Yasawas has strong
potential to emerge as a commercially viable alternative livelihood option.
The Yaqeta cluster farm is a group of small farms averaging around 400 lines of seaweed each and is
one of around 21 reported Seaweed farms in Fiji. Over time, more and more potential farmers have
wanted to get involved and the cooperative is now made up of 15 farmers across 2 villages. In order
to get started, these farmers were provided with cuttings of seaweed from the nursery and, with
GVIs help, these were then used to create seaweed lines. The Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry set
the goal of establishing 3000 lines by June 2014, so during the spring months GVI worked alongside
farmers and their families to create the additional seaweed lines needed. After a busy few months
this target was achieved and there are now approximately 3000 lines in the Yaqeta cluster.
GVI volunteers visited the seaweed farm weekly in order to oversee the maintenance and provide
assistance with the labour required. GVIs work on the seaweed farms has therefore strengthened
our presence in the region and relationship with Vuaki and Yaqeta villages and with the Ministry of
Fisheries and Forestry.

Figure 1 Left, GVI volunteers transport the harvest to shore, Right, dried seaweed is weighed and prepped for sale

Out of the fifteen farmers in the cooperative, twelve harvested in July and August 2014. The
seaweed was then dried in the sun and packed into sacks. In September a buyer from the Chinese
firm Wikong Marine Seafood Exports visited the villages to inspect the seaweed crop and agreed to
buy all the produce from the farms. The price of Seaweed from
the farm has been increased from $0.9/kg to $1 per kg.

Statistics from the first sale:

Average bag weight 30-40kg
Tonnage sold to date 7.7
Average earnings
900FJD per farmer

Many of the farmers were subsisting on less than 5000FJD per annum which is below the poverty
line. Both men and women have been involved in the cultivation and upkeep of the farm and this
new income generation alternative to fishing has added a further sustainable and accessible means
for sustaining remote island communities.
Seaweed farming requires little technical knowledge but a lot of man-power when tying lines and
harvesting. At the beginning of this initiative, GVI volunteers provided some of this man-power on a
weekly basis, helping to promote the project and establish a weekly system of upkeep. Now that the
farms are lucrative, more people are becoming interested which has enabled the Yaqeta cluster farm
to become self-sufficient. The villagers that have been involved from day one have seen the method
from start to finish, from line establishment to harvest. These villagers now have the ability to
continue seaweed farming and it is hoped that the villagers will share the knowledge and encourage
the practice in other areas of the region.

Figure 2 An Impressive boat load of seaweed is transported to shore for drying

GVI Fiji

For more information on GVIs projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.co.uk
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