0061058429

Scott Morgan

Sisal Production in Madagascar
Sisal is a plant that yields a very desirable fibre that has been excesiively harvested from the 1960s for its use in rope, twine, paper, carpets and several other uses. Like all markets, sisal production must be considered in terms of its social, economic and environmental impacts. Sisal production started in Brazil, and production there has only increased, accounting for 47.0% of world production. Plantations have spread, however, to Tanzania (15.3%), China (14.1%), Kenya (11.5%), and Madagascar (3.8%). To extract the fiber used in production, the leaves are crushed and pulped, the fibre the being extracted and washed. Further beating and pulping is undertaken to ensure the sisal fibre is a light and workable material. This involved process means that there is much manpower required for the growing and treatment of the sisal plant. This involved process means there is plenty of job oppurtunites for those in Madagascar, even being able to utilise the unskilled labourers to farm the plantations, primarily in the South and South-east areas of Madagascar. Currently, agriculture in Madagascar gives employment to 75% of the population, and as poverty in Madagascar is very high, this helps increase the standard of living of many by providing jobs. Workers on sisal plantations are currently not earning enough to live on and provide for their families. Integrated Regional Information Networks Africa (IRIN Africa) state that on the sisal plantations, and average worker will earn $10 per month, causing a large proportion of the population to fall into poverty and malnutrition. While initially being detrimental to the environment, sisal production is much better than many other forms of agriculture. It currently uses no chemical fertilisers, and while pesticides are currently used, they can easily be eliminated by increasing the amount of employers to manually weed the plantations. Expression of a likely viewpoint from a Madagascan village elder: Today many of my fellow villagers will go without a meal, many of the children being to weak to move, and many dieing due to the lack of money to buy food, and an increase in the sisal market will help fix this. Living in an area that drought is often visited upon does not help, hindering the production of sisal, and thus limiting the available jobs. Whilst forests were initially cleared to make way for plantations, our village is currently more concerned with feeding our families, and so the environmental impact of sisal plantations does not play a factor in our attitude toward the plantations. Currently the economic and social considerations are the only ones that this village is concerned with. While many villagers work at the sisal plantation, they do not earn enough to support their families, many having very large families. It is often the case where a mother must leave her children at 2 months old so she may go back and provide for the rest of the family. As workers at the sisal plantations are not paid very much, it makes it incredibly difficult to feed the family, often only surviving on one bowl of corn each per day, meat only being bought once a month. Further to not being able to pay for food, education is also neglected as it cannot be afforded. This lack of finances to pay for education and food creates a society that is riddle with malnutrition and an illiterate populace, slowly causing the society to die. If sisal production was to increase, this would provide more jobs the people of my village. This would mean that we can slowly fight against malnutrition and poverty, slowly introducing schools, and further down the track skilled professionals. Creating more jobs would not be enough, however. The government should also institute and awards scheme to ensure that the workers are being paid fairly, allowing them to provide adequately for their families.

ENG2002

Assignment 1

0061058429 Expression of a likely viewpoint from a sisal producer/merchant/exporter

Scott Morgan

Currently the sisal market in Tanzania and Kenya is waning and it is now Madagascar's turn to increase output and become a major supplier of sisal fibers. In the final quarter of 2013, the demand for Madagascan sisal surpassed the production, so it is obvious that we must increase the sisal production to counter this growing demand. Currently Madagascar exports of sisal have been hindered by the shipping company that is to serve the port of Ehoala regularly, ie once a month (WGC, 2014). Recently the ships of this company have not been reliable in reaching the port, often due to bad weather and the like, but if the market for sisal was to increase, I strongly feel that the shipping company will become much more willing to transport our goods. The increase in sisal production will not only increase our profitability as a company, but with the chance of more business, the shipping company out of Ehoala will also grow. Further to the added benefits of an increase of the sisal export, bringing in more profit for the shareholders, the growth of sisal plantations will increase the job opportunities for the villagers in the local area. Currently the malnutrition and the poor economic positions of the villagers is in a horrible state, and will be positively served by an increase in jobs. As the plantations require workers who have very little experience, it is entirely feasible that the jobs will go to the local villagers. Not only will this provide for them, but it will also be a cheap workforce for the company, allowing us to still maintain a large profit at the end of the year. We feel that the sisal industry currently is insufficient and must be expanded to benefit the sisal industry and the shipping company economically, whilst supporting the villages economically and socially. Expression of a likely viewpoint from a powerful Madagascan politician: The opinion of the government in relation to sisal production is that it has reached its limit in Madagascar. The sisal industry is to greatly affected by drought, tornados and flooding in the Madagascan area, and as it only accounts for less that 4% of the world supply of sisal, we believe that it should be abandoned in favour of the greater exports of the Madagascan agricultural industry. The top three exports for Madagascar are coffee, vanilla and cloves, all products greatly affecting the global market. We feel that if we were to invest more money and time into the sisal production market, it would be a waste. Currently the community is not being supported by the sisal manufactures, being paid barely enough to survive. It is the feeling of the government that if we put in place award schemes to support the workers, it would encourage the producers to either cut production, or seek illegitimate workers to harvest and maintain their crops. Instead, we feel it would benefit the community if we put money into health care and aid options, raising the standard of living in a dying community. Looked after the major concerns in the communities' lives (health and education), the villages will start to be able to support themselves and provide a thriving community, in turn support and contributing to the economy of Madagascar. The sisal industry currently has little impact on the environment in Madagascar. However, the government feels that if the plantations stopped expanding, or were even reduced, the land could be then used in other agricultural endeavours, reducing the need for deforestation in other parts of Madagascar. Clearly, to cease the expansion of sisal production, or even scale back its production, would benefit Madagascar as a whole as well as the people in economic, social and environmental ways. Conclusion: When considering the impacts that the sisal production industry has on Madagascar economically, socially and environmentally, it is clear that it would benefit greatly from an increase in sisal production. It isn't hard to see that poverty and malnutrition is rife within Madagascar, a fact that ENG2002 Assignment 1

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Scott Morgan

many inside and outside of the country wish to rectify. Whilst humanitarian aid plays a part in catering to the medical care of many villagers, it is evident that an increase in the sisal production would provide more jobs for many locals, allowing them to buy a wider range of food for their diet. At present meat is a delicacy, and is often disregarding as it is too expensive for the everyday worker to afford. A better diet will decrease the malnutrition of the people, allowing them to focus on other endeavours, such as increasing their education, putting into practice the things the learn to advance the state of their village. An excess of income will also help them support others, even allowing them to involve themselves in some form of entertainment. Further that helping the locals, an increase in the sisal industry of Madagascar will help the country as a whole as it will increase the export of the product, increasing the profit margin of the sisal production companies and the tax paid. This will mean that the money can be put back into the community to further the development of this poverty stricken place.

ENG2002

Assignment 1

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Reference List
Madagascar, Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (August 21, 2014). Stevens, Rita. Madagascar. Philadelphia, Pa.: Chelsea House, 1999. Sisal 2011, Salvador, Brazil, viewed 20 August 2014, IRIN 2014, Paris, France, viewed 20 August 2014, Clasen 2014, Hamburg, Germany, viewed 20 August 2014,

ENG2002

Assignment 1