Student Social Entrepreneurship Programme

By Clifford Spencer, Chairman, Aquaculture without Frontiers

How the National Aquaculture Centre Ltd and Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) can contribute towards the success of Universiti Malaysia Perlis' Student Social Entrepreneurship Programme

Events of 2020 have bought into sharp focus global health and food security. AwF is responding to these changes in global outlook in directing its support appropriately. Many of us are disconnected from our food supply chain, which is now almost certainly global in some aspect. As a result of recent events these supply chains will change and retake into account national, regional and local self-sufficiency.
 

Healthy food, in turn, supports a healthy immune system, which is proving to be important for human survival in today's pandemic. Education covering the food and health of tomorrow's citizens and workforce has never been more important for nation states.

One such development is AwF forging a relationship with Perlis University in Malaysia. This involves supporting individual students for the entirety of a one-year course to set them on a path to an aquacultural future. We have selected the most financially challenged students for allocating this support, in order to make real difference to those most in need. Our intent is that both a career and food security come hand in hand.

AwF is also involved in other educational activity designed to encourage school leavers to choose a career in aquaculture and the vital healthy food production so necessary for future generations. All this in a circular food production model designed to provide environmentally designed and pollutant free food.

Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) has established an aquaculture 'incubator' using simple recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) developed jointly with a private company. The incubator is meant for training students to be aquaculture techno-entrepreneurs. It is also a platform for aquaculture technology related research and development, and for showcasing sustainable fish production using simple, affordable, user- and environmental- friendly, and cost-effective systems. The RAS system was proven ideal for commercial rearing of jade perch (Scortum barcoo) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

In January 2018, 14 undergraduate students from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) whose parents are in the B40 group (i.e. the bottom 40% of households with monthly income of less than RM 3,900.00 per month) were selected to participate in the Student Social Entrepreneurship Program. Their selection was based on certain criteria such as parents' or household income, family background, as well as their interest and determination to learn about entrepreneurship, aquaculture systems, fish production and willingness to devote their free time after class and during holidays to work at the on-campus incubator fish farm.

As trainees, in between classes, lectures, and laboratory activities, students have to spend a period of six-to-seven months working and learning about the principles of RAS, design and assembly, its standard operating procedures (SOP) and basic fish biology, feed and nutrition, fish health, behaviour, fish husbandry, entrepreneurial skills and leadership skills. Among them, they take turns to become team leader, whose role is to manage or coordinate activities of members from the first day the fry were introduced into the rearing tanks until they reach targeted market size.

Over the production cycle of six-to-seven months, the aquapreneurs shall engage in the following activities:
• Rearing jade perch using the RAS
• Assembly and commissioning of the RAS
• Familiarisation and execution of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the RAS
• Day-to-day fish husbandry and farm management
• Attracting prospective aquapreneurs among UniMAP students
• Building self-confidence in setting up and running aquaculture related businesses

Anticipated net income from the sale of jade perch (i.e., gross income minus all operational expenses: such as costs of fry, feed, electricity, water, and other consumables) partly becomes earning for trainees, and partly as reserves for system maintenance, upgrading or acquisition of new system (i.e. farm expansion).

You can read the full article in the July edition of International Aquafeed and Fish Farming Technology magazine, HERE.

Visit the Aquaculture Without Frontiers website, HERE.

Visit the National Aquaculture Centre website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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