209 Understanding Perceptions of Climate Stressors and Mitigation Measures Employed by Women Seaweed Farmers in South District of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of women seaweed farmers on climate stressors and mitigation measures  employed to moderate them. The study was carried out in two villages found along the coast in the south district of Unguja Island (Paje,  and Jambiani). The villages were chosen because they have the majority of women who engage in seaweed farming. Surveys were  conducted to collect quantitative data whereas Focus group discussion and observation methods were employed to collect qualitative  data. A total number of 128 women seaweed farmers were used as the sampling frame in the study. Results revealed that seaweed is  widely practiced by the majority (87.5%) of married women with (54.7%) of them who had primary education, and (53.3%) of them aged  between 29-38 years old. In the same vein, the majority (58%) were aware of the climate stressors which impede seaweed production.  The common climate stressors that were reported were increasing seawater temperature (33%), high wind (27%), and irregular rainfall (20%), disease outbreak (ice-ice) 17%, and salinity (3%). The common mitigation strategies employed were; the adoption of deep water  farming (30%), improving farming facilities (22%), engaging in other income-generating activities (16%), increasing the frequency of  farming (12%), mobilizing men to engage on seaweed farming (9%), and decreasing farm size (5%). The government and other  stakeholders need to invest more in the highlighted mitigation measures for the sake of improving seaweed production. Investing more  in research and development of improved innovative interventions such as; adoption of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA)  system to support the seaweed sector is of utmost importance in the economic development of Zanzibar and other coastal communities  in the country and the global.