Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has issued a total of 13 boats to Kwale Seaweed farmers and fishers during the commeration of the World Sea weed Day held at Mkunguni Beach Management Unit, in Ramisi Ward , Msambweni Subcounty.
The 6 boats will be used by the seaweed farmers to harvest the seaweed from the waters to the offshore while the remaining boats issued to the fishers to enable them to undertake fishing activities in the sea and increase the fish catch from 2.3kgs to 1.5 tonnes on daily basis.
The issuance of boats is under the Kemfsed project implemented by the Kwale County Government and the National Government funded by the World Bank.
This year’s event is themed “Enhancing innovation, production, value addition and market linkages”.
The celebrations come when the County Government has established over 21 seaweed farming groups with about 420 farmers in Msambweni and LungaLunga sub-Counties.
Speaking during the event, Governor Achani said she recognizes seaweed farming as an “untapped treasure” and is committed to supporting its growth through various interventions.
“So far we have established 21 seaweed farming groups with about 420 active farmers in Msambweni and Lunga LungaLunga sub counties. We are also supporting seaweed farmers every year with seaweed farm inputs including ropes, gumboots, gloves and weighing scales,”she noted.
She however said that the County Government is constructing a seaweed store at Mwazaro, noting the purchase and distribution of 6 seaweed transportation boats to 6 seaweed groups which will be used for harvesting and transportation of farmers and harvesting of seaweed.
“My administration also has purchased and distributed assorted seaweed value addition equipments to eight seaweed farmer groups (disc mill, pulverizing machine, soap plodder),”she added.
Beach Management Unit Network Mtengo Omar thanked the County Government and the National Government for recognizing them as fishermen.
“So far we have been given over 62 boats which has made fishing easy,” he noted
Ashura Sheboi, a representative of Tumbe Sea weed,thanked the County Government saying their lives have changed through seaweed farming.
Seaweed is used on making various products, including soap, shampoo, seaweed powder for food, and as a raw material for pharmaceutical and cleaning products.
