PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries Capt. Hamad Bakari Hamad has urged stakeholders in the seaweed subsector to seek new strategies to improve trade for the benefit of farmers and the government.

Speaking here at a workshop aimed at strengthening seaweed farming in Tanzania, Capt. Hamad emphasised the need for joint cooperation between development organisations and the government to ensure that seaweed farmers progress and bring economic transformation to the country.

He stated that the government, through the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, was implementing and overseeing marine resources, including seaweed farming, with the goal of creating positive changes for both citizens and the government.

"Through this workshop, we hope to introduce something new by creating a fresh chapter in the 35-year history of the seaweed industry here in Zanzibar," he said.

He further noted that it is time to transform the economic landscape of seaweed farming which has been a major international crop for Zanzibar both locally and globally.

He expressed his gratitude to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for bringing together stakeholders in the seaweed subsector to address challenges and explore better ways to enhance commercial value of the crop.

Dr Hamis Nikuli, Assistant Director of Marine Aquaculture Growth, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, emphasised that participants in the workshop must come up with beneficial solutions for the seaweed sector.

“Through this meeting, we will reach decisions that will assist policymakers in addressing challenges,” he said.

He added that experts must continue to provide education on seaweed farming, as seaweed can be used to produce livestock feed, which presents a significant opportunity for the crop's price to increase.

Dr Masoud Rashid Mohammed, Zanzibar Seaweed Company (ZASCO) director general assured seaweed farmers that the company would continue purchasing seaweed from them for processing, aiming to resolve market reliability issue.

Ali Said, Chief Officer at the Institute of Marine Research and Fisheries Resources, said the government, through the research institute, was continuing to conduct research on seaweed seeds to strengthen farming and production of the crop in the country.

Nate Toylor Voorhess from TNC noted that marine seaweed farming has grown significantly compared to other agricultural products due to the extensive knowledge held by seaweed farmers.

Stakeholders in the sector urged relevant institutions to conduct research on seaweed farming to identify the minerals found in the crop, ensuring scientific verification of its quality and value.

Mwajuma Rashid, one of the participants, called on both governments to establish infrastructure for harvesting, drying, and storing seaweed to increase its value both locally and internationally.

She also urged seaweed buyers to offer better prices and ensure a reliable market to encourage young people to engage in seaweed farming.