SEAWEED COMPANIES URGED TO INCREASE PRICES

By Foum

Companies buying sea weed in Zanzibar have been warned to provide better price to the farmers to meet world market price to enable them to increase their income in comparison to overall cost of production.

Zanzibar First Vice President,  Seif Sharif Hamad made the call while addressing sea weed farmers at Micheweni district Pemba, Northern region

"The failure of the companies in increasing sea weed price may force the government to intervene and allow Zanzibar State Trading Corporation ZSTC to buy the commodity for the betterment of the farmers and the nation as whole" He said

He said the present price given to farmers of 400 shillings per kilogram is not fair in comparison to labour production, cost of production and need to be upgraded.

‘’ Sea weed production has become one of main stay of trade and ought to be promoted to decrease unemployment to the people and enhance national income ‘’ He emphasized.

‘’ Copra and chilies and other commodities which were formally produced and they have been replaced by sea weed ‘’ He further said.

He explained that the aim of the government of National Unity is to ensure that seaweed farmers earn 80 percent of world market price  and success has been achieved in clove commodity and thus should be implemented in the sea weed production .

A total of 12,500 tons of sea weed were exported last year while more than 14,000 tons are expected to be produced this year.

2,300 seaweed farmers are engaged in sea weed farming in Pemba Northern region and majority of them  are vwomen.