In the coastal village of Mwazaro, Kenya, locals once relied on cassava and maize cultivation for their livelihood. However, increasing droughts pushed them to adopt a new crop: seaweed.
Planted along the beach and dried inland, seaweed farming has become a lifeline for many communities, meeting a growing demand both locally and internationally for products like soap, shampoo, and food-grade seaweed powder.
Introduced to Kenya in 2008, seaweed farming has since expanded to 20 villages, according to David Mirera from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). The shift is driven by climate factors such as rising temperatures, sea levels, and erratic rainfall.
In Kibuyuni, where seaweed farming has flourished, infrastructure and electricity improvements are transforming the community, says Kassim Ramtu Bakari of the Seaweed Farmers’ Cooperative, which supports over 100 households.
For Tima Jasho, a mother of seven, seaweed farming has enabled her to pay her children’s school fees and build a brick home, replacing her former mud house. “With seaweed farming, I don’t depend on anyone,” she shared. “I can earn my own money.”
In 2022, Kenya’s seaweed industry produced nearly 100 tons worth over $30,000, with exports reaching China, France, the U.S., and beyond. The global seaweed market, valued at $17 billion in 2021, has grown significantly in the past two decades, according to a 2024 UN report.
While Kenya still lags behind neighboring Tanzania, which employs over 26,000 seaweed farmers, the sector is gaining momentum and shows promise for continued growth.
