Sustainable Seaweed Farming in Tanzania: A New Era of Opportunities

As the sun rises over Pemba island in Tanzania, a group of seaweed farmers, led by Shajia, head towards the water to harvest their seaweed at low tide. The once-thriving seaweed farms along the shore are now a thing of the past, as climate change has taken its toll on the industry. However, with the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Local Development Fund (LDFS), Shajia and her fellow farmers are adapting to the new normal.

The LDFS project has provided Shajia with the necessary equipment and training to grow seaweed along ropes, ensuring a bountiful harvest that is easier to gather and protected from the tides. The dried seaweed is then exported for use in medicines and processed into carrageenan, a gelling substance used in a variety of products, from shampoo to soy milk.

For 26-year-old Saumu, seaweed farming has become a lucrative business. After receiving training and equipment through LDFS, she increased her yield to 290 kilos, using her earnings to pay for her children’s education and build a new home. Saumu is also part of a collective of young women who produce a rich seaweed skincare oil, planning to process Pemba-grown seaweed into powder themselves.

Saumu’s success has made her a role model for other young women, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities like seaweed farming, which can benefit their families and communities. As the region’s rural population continues to sustainably harvest the ocean’s bounty, the future of seaweed farming in Tanzania looks brighter than ever.

With government plans to establish a processing plant on Pemba, farmers will soon be able to move up the value chain and earn higher profits for their produce. As the islands off the east African coast continue to thrive, the region’s rich oceanic network, spanning the Indian Ocean, will remain a vital part of the global economy.