(Home based) Identification of novel techniques to recruit families to undertake aquaculture-based alternative livelihoods in Velondriake and methods of adding value for producers

No fieldwork in Madagascar required.

Blue Ventures is collaborating with a range of commercial companies including Madagascar Holothurie, Copefrito and IBIS to develop sea cucumber and seaweed farming as alternative livelihoods. Families have to sign contacts which bind them to sell exclusively to these companies. A literature review of other marine and terrestrial farming activities is required to identify alternative arrangements whereby producers receive more value from the products they produce. In addition, in the current pilot project, families have come forward on a voluntary basis to undertake these activities and recruitment techniques have been relatively impartial to ensure equity among all stakeholders. However, in the experience of the project funders, development projects such as these have high dropout rates and funders only expect circa 25% of families to continue the activity in the long-term. The identification of new competitive approaches such as micro-franchising are needed to ensure families or individuals have the capacity to undertake these new micro businesses and manage them sustainably in the long-term.