The Seaweed Supply Chain in Jambiani Coastal Communities, Zanzibar:

Challenges and Way Forward

Abstract

The study investigates activities in the supply chain of seaweed and their challenges among seaweed farmers in the coastal community of Jambiani-Zanzibar. The study is conducted in Zanzibar's Jambiani area with greater concentration in Kikadini and Kibigija. Employing qualitative approaches, the case study design is chosen to be the best fit in to this study considering the case, respondents and nature of the study. Researchers recruit 45 respondents through snowball and purposive techniques. To obtain the required data, researchers make use of In-Depth Interviews (IDI), focus group Discussions (FGD) and document review. Through tables created manually, researchers code and analyse data content wise. Findings show that the supply chain of seaweed just like other crops involve activities like farming and harvesting, storage and preservation, value and quality addition well as marketing. However, seaweed farmers were confronted by challenges include low price, lack of proper storage facilities, farming and harvesting facilities, climatic changes among others. Thus, based on the observed findings, researchers recommend the establishment of well facilitated drying and storage centres, sufficing farmers with adequate information regarding seaweed market and prices worldwide and establishment of seaweed processing industries which will help in minimizing the act of selling raw seaweed abroad.