COMMERCIAL seaweed farming has become the major source of income to over 24,000 people from Zanzibar, thanks to the seaweed clusters initiative by Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in collaboration with other stakeholders.

This was said in Dar es Salaam yesterday by a representative of the Seaweed cluster initiative, Mr Rajab Ameir at the ongoing 42nd Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF).
“Commercial seaweed farming has contributed immensely to the improvement of the people’s living standards in Zanzibar,” he said, adding that domestic seaweed processing has increased farmers earnings.
Currently, only 0.5 per cent of the seaweed is being processed locally and the rest is being exported raw. Domestic seaweed processing started in 2006 following the introduction of the seaweed cluster initiative by COSTECH.
He said the annual seaweed farming in Zanzibar is at an average of 15,000 tonnes, with 90 per cent of the producers being women, generating earnings estimated to be about 3bn/-.
Mr Ameir said seaweed farming has been getting a boost from the Zanzibar Ministry of Trade, Industry and Marketing with ultimate goal of unlocking more potential to benefit producers.
He said it was through the ministry’s support that seaweed farmers’ day was established and celebrated annually on July 23rd; an initiative to encourage farmers produce more and expand markets of their crop locally and abroad.
He said there is need for the government to recognise the seaweed clusters initiative that could contribute to the increase of domestic processing of seaweed for value addition in order to fetch premium revenues.
He said value addition through domestic seaweed processing was important because it contributes to the government’s drive of industrial development for inclusive growth.
Introduced to the island of Zanzibar in 1988, seaweed farming currently employs 24,000 people, mostly rural women, while upwards of 150,000 people benefit indirectly from the seaweed industry.
Seaweed mostly grown in the Zanzibar Island is cottonii and spinosium that were introduced from the Philippines.