Kwale seaweed farmers and fishers boosted with 13 boats to improve harvest and income

Seaweed farmers and fishers in Kwale County have received a major boost after 13 new boats were distributed to enhance their productivity and earnings.

“Our lives have changed through seaweed farming. We thank the county government for the support,” said Mwanamkasi Boi, one of the beneficiaries of the initiative.

Six of the boats have been allocated to seaweed farmers to ease the harvesting and transportation of seaweed from the ocean.

The remaining seven boats have been allocated to fishers to help increase their catch from an average of 2.3 kilos to around 1.5 tonnes.

“This assistance has greatly reduced the burden of transporting seaweed. We can now harvest more and save time,” said Luvuna Bakari, another seaweed farmer.

The support was provided under the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project, a joint effort between the Kwale County Government and the national government, with funding from the World Bank.

The boats were officially handed over by Governor Fatuma Achani during World Seaweed Day celebrations held at Mkunguni Beach Management Unit in Ramisi Ward, Msambweni Sub-county.

This year’s event carried the theme “Enhancing Innovation, Production, Value Addition and Market Linkages.”

Governor Fatuma highlighted the importance of seaweed as a valuable but underused resource and reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to promoting its growth.

“So far, we have supported 21 seaweed farming groups with about 420 active farmers in Msambweni and Lunga Lunga. We provide ropes, gloves, gumboots and weighing scales to ensure they thrive,” she said.

She also announced plans for a seaweed storage centre at Mwazaro and revealed that eight farming groups have already received value addition equipment such as soap plodders, disc mills, and pulverising machines.

According to Mtengo Omar from the Beach Management Unit Network, the continued support is transforming the sector: “So far, we have been given over 62 boats, which has made fishing easier and more efficient.”

Seaweed is used in various industries, including cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning products.

The recent investment is expected to help local communities tap into these markets and improve their economic well-being.

Other Topics To Read

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• Kwale County
• Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development
• Governor Fatuma Achan
• World Seaweed Day
• Seaweed farmers
• fishers
• Kwale seaweed farmers and fishers boosted with 13 boats to improve harvest and income
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