A study on the problems faced by small-scale downstream fishery industry entrepreneurs in the Kudat region Sabah / Josephine Robert

This is a research study on the problems faced by small-scale downstream fishery industry entrepreneurs in the Kudat region, Sabah. The study was conducted to fulfill the requirement as needed by the Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA. The main objective of this study is to identify the problems that are significantly affecting the downstream fisheries entrepreneurs especially fishermen assisted by Ko-Nelayan under the Small-scale Downstream Fishery Industry (PIKP) Loan scheme. The study was confined in the Kudat region because of the large number of fishermen assisted under the RM9 allocation program are from Kudat area. The study has given an overview of the problems faced by the small-scale downstream fishery industry entrepreneurs. This was reflected by the fact that lack of capital, low product prices, transportation problem, lack of market information and an unstable supply of raw materials problems faced by them. The finding shows that most of the respondents are operating only on a part-time basis and are not engaged in any other activities. The conclusion suggested that the assistances and Loan programs currently extended by Ko-nelayan does not adequately address the specific needs of the small-scale dowmstream fishery entrepreneurs. This was reflected by the fact that lack of capital, low product prices, transportation problem, lack of market information and an unstable supply of raw materials problems faced by them. These situations cannot be left unattended, as their dependency to these activities is very high as it is common facts that in rural area and small town like Kudat, alternative employment opportunities are difficult to get or even non-existent.