Exploring livelihood motivations among B40 communities participating in the Ikan Bekok entrepreneurship programme in Besut, Terengganu: A sustainable livelihood framework perspective

Abstract

Community-based entrepreneurship programmes have increasingly been promoted as mechanisms for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment among low-income communities in Malaysia. However, limited attention has been given to understanding how prospective participants perceive such programmes before engaging in entrepreneurial activities. This study explores the motivations, aspirations, and livelihood assets of B40 individuals participating in the Ikan Bekok enterprise programme in Besut, Terengganu. Exploratory descriptive qualitative design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with sixteen programme participants recruited through convenience and snowball sampling techniques and analysed using thematic analysis.  The findings reveal five emerging themes; livelihood necessity, family and social support, pursuing economic opportunities through self-development, aspirations for future advancement, and anticipating challenges and uncertainties. Interpreted through the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, the findings indicate that participants sought to strengthen multiple livelihood assets, particularly financial, human, and social capital, while recognising the importance of physical and natural resources in sustaining traditional food enterprises. Participation in the programme was primarily driven by economic vulnerability and the need for income diversification rather than immediate entrepreneurial ambitions.  The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that traditional food enterprise programmes function not only as entrepreneurship initiatives but also as livelihood strategies that support household resilience and community empowerment among low-income populations.