Men's Perceptions of Seaweed Farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania: Exploring Gender Dynamics in Coastal Livelihoods

Seaweed farming is emerging as a cornerstone of the blue economy, significantly boosting national GDP and creating vital economic opportunities for coastal communities. Despite its potential contribution, the sector is dominated by gender imbalance: approximately 80% of Zanzibar's 23,000 seaweed farmers are women, highlighting an underrepresentation of men in this potential sector. This study examined men’s perceptions of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, specifically focusing on the coastal wards of Jambiani, Paje, and Bwejuu. A cross-sectional research design was utilized, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a randomly selected sample of 150 men aged 18 to 55 years in the study area. Findings indicate that over 70% of men in Zanzibar have negative perceptions regarding seaweed farming. Specifically, 72% of the male respondents classified seaweed farming to be primarily a feminine activity. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed several statistically significant perceptions that substantially impact men's participation in seaweed farming. Notably, age (coef = -1.182, p = 0.000), the perception that seaweed farming is a women-based economic activity (coef = -0.358, p = 0.016) and the belief that it cannot meet household needs (coef = -0.780, p = 0.041). Furthermore, the belief that it is difficult to develop through seaweed farming (coef = -0.780, p = 0.001) and the perception that it requires costly inputs (coef = -0.181, p = 0.000) were also significant perceptions. The study highlights gender stereotypes and socio-cultural misconceptions affecting men's participation in seaweed farming in Zanzibar. To address these issues, the study recommends the implementation of gender-sensitive educational programs, workshops, and community discussions that raise awareness of seaweed's economic potential, challenge stereotypes and conduct ongoing research to monitor changes in perceptions and participation rates