About

Who we are

ZANZIBAR SEAWEED CLUSTER INITIATIVE (ZaSCI)

Zanzibar Seaweed Cluster Initiative (ZaSCI) is part of the Pan African Competitiveness Forum (PACF); a Clusters Programme in Africa – Tanzanian Chapter-PACF-TZ, which is being coordinated by Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).

The Clusters Programme started officially in Tanzania in 2004 where by 8 Pilot Cluster Initiatives were established among them being the Zanzibar Seaweed Cluster Initiative (ZaSCI). Today there are about 71 clusters scattered throughout Tanzania.

ZaSCI operates in a Triple Helix Model by linking the following

(i)Business (Farmers, Processors, Exporters, Buyers and Users),

(ii)Government (Ministries), and

(iii)Academia (Universities and Research institutions).

It is an initiative which was officially registered in Zanzibar, Tanzania on 26^th May 2007 with registration number L.2613 under the Societies Act No. 6 of 1995 though its activities started in 2006. Currently ZaSCI has 3,700 members, out of them 500 are seaweed processors from 28 groups scattered in Unguja and Pemba

ZaSCI OBJECTIVES

1. Seaweed industry

To conduct a seaweed industry stakeholders’ engagement dialogue and address issues and challenges facing the industry.

2. Community awareness

To raise the community awareness on using some seaweed products - a number of products to be consumed by the function invitees.

3. Knowledge in seaweed

To expand the knowledge in seaweed value addition outside the country

THE SEAWEED INDUSTRY

Agricultural Finance Faq's

THE SEAWEED INDUSTRY IN ZANZIBAR

Zanzibar is the third country in the world for producing red seaweed Eucheuma (after Indonesia and Philippines) exporting about 10,000 tonnes of dry seaweed annually. Seaweed sector in Zanzibar is the number one sector in creating employment whereby over 24,000 farmers are employed in seaweed sector in which above 80% are women. Seaweed is the third sector which contributes foreign currency earning in Zanzibar after tourism and cloves, it contributes about 7.6% of GDP

ZaSCI INTERVENTION

The aim of ZaSCI is to combat challenges which are directly faced by seaweed farmers considering that since 1989 there has been no innovation (both in farming and value addition technologies) but only exporting of raw unprocessed seaweed. ZaSCI mostly works in two areas of innovation: developing innovative deep-water farming technologies with the aim of increasing the production of the higher valued seaweed cottonii. ZaSCI also develops seaweed value addition technologies and empowers farmers and processors in the new technologies.

SEAWEED DAY AT A GLANCE

In conducting its activities, ZaSCI observed that many people in Zanzibar and Tanzania in general do not know much about seaweed and its uses. For more than 10 years ZaSCI had aimed at advertising itself, giving the knowledge on local usage of seaweed and increase market for its seaweed products by holding a Seaweed Day. This had not been possible because ZaSCI had no funding to do so. Thanks to Milele Zanzibar Foundation (MZF) who supported ZaSCI to hold its 1st ZaSCI day on 23rd July 2016, and continued to do so until last year when ZaSCI held its 7th Seaweed Day on 23rd July. ZaSCI has also been supported by the Ministry of trade and industry, Ministry of blue economy, SMIDA, FAO, UNIDO, KOICA, ZMBF, and TANTRADE