NMB & ZASCO LAUNCH TRAINING FOR ZANZIBAR SEAWEED FARMERS

Zanzibar’s Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, Hon. Omar Said Shaban speaks during the launch ceremony of training sessions for seaweed farmers organized by the foundation in close collaboration with NMB Bank and Zanzibar seaweed Company (ZASCO). On the right is the Director General of ZASCO, Dr. Masoud Rashid Mohammed, second right is the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development Permanent secretary, Fatma Khamis Mabrouk while left is Head of Agri Retail Department at NMB Bank, Nsolo Mlozi and second left is the NMB Foundation's General Manager, Nelson Karumuna.

NMB Foundation in collaboration with Zanzibar Seaweed Company (ZASCO), has initiated an extensive training program for seaweed farmers in Unguja and Pemba. The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) has acknowledged the initiative, highlighting NMB as a close, strategic, and everlasting partner in Zanzibar's development.

Zanzibar's Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, Hon. Omar Said Shaban (right) greets NMB Foundation's General Manager, Nelson Karumuna (center) during the launch ceremony of training sessions for seaweed farmers organized by the foundation in close collaboration with NMB Bank and Zanzibar seaweed Company (ZASCO). On the left is the Head of Agribusiness at NMB Bank, Nsolo Mlozi.

The three-month training, involving over 1,300 farmers from 72 farming groups, was inaugurated by the Zanzibar Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, Hon. Omar Said Shaaban. This training program is the result of a partnership agreement signed this past March between NMB and the Zanzibar Seaweed Company (ZASCO).

In his opening remarks, Minister Omar applauded NMB Bank, NMB Foundation and ZASCO for actualizing their agreement with this training initiative. The program aims to educate farmers on modern farming techniques, provide access to affordable agricultural loans, and build their financial literacy, thereby contributing to both individual and national development.

“In March of this year, we gathered in Dar es Salaam to sign this agreement. Today, we stand here to implement it. I commend you because many organizations sign agreements but fail to execute them. NMB and ZASCO have gone further in this regard.”

“This training focuses on three key areas: financial education, agricultural education and production, and financial empowerment through affordable loans for our farmers. These aspects will guide them in effective farming practices, managing their farming income, and accessing capital.”

“I greatly appreciate NMB for their continued efforts in supporting Zanzibar’s Blue Economy agenda. We all witness their significant role in solving various challenges faced by the people of Zanzibar.”

“If there is a partner of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar that stands out as the closest, most strategic, and, to quote Western terminology, an ‘all-seasons’ partner—be it rain, drought, or harvest—it is NMB Bank, consistently collaborating with the government under any circumstances,” the Minister emphasized.

On his part, ZASCO Director General, Dr. Masoud Rashid Mohammed stated that the training program is a direct outcome of their institutional agreement to enhance seaweed production and serves as proof of their shared objectives. He urged other financial institutions to adopt NMB's exemplary practices.

“Minister Omar stressed that his top three priorities are the construction of a Seaweed Processing Factory in Pemba. This goal is nearing realization as the construction is advancing rapidly and the factory is expected to be operational by next year.”

“To ensure the factory is supplied with sufficient raw materials for processing, our agreement with NMB led to the initiation of this training for 1,300 farmers. This effort aims to boost production to meet the factory’s needs, starting with 33 groups in Pemba and 39 groups in Unguja,” Masoud explained.

NMB Foundation's General Manager, Nelson Karumuna, expressed gratitude to Minister Omar Shaaban for participating in the agreement signing ceremony and the training inauguration. He said that this engagement reflects SMZ's commitment to advancing the well-being of Zanzibar’s inhabitants.

“These trainings are designed to provide farmers with financial education, capital access through loans, and agricultural tools. One might wonder why we are providing financial education to these farmers. The reason is that it aligns with the directive of the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).”

“The BoT has clearly stated that financial education is crucial for understanding and participating in agricultural business. Therefore, we are focusing on financial education, with NMB Bank facilitating loans and ZASCO delivering accurate agricultural training.”

“We believe that the training program we are launching today will significantly boost the production of seaweed in Zanzibar. The training will commence soon, and we seek extensive cooperation from the government, ZASCO, and the farmers themselves,” Karumuna stated.

Earlier, NMB’s Agri - Retail Head of Department, Nsolo Mlozi, expressed pride in establishing this training initiative for seaweed farmers, highlighting their integral role in the agricultural value chain, which encompasses farming, livestock, fishing, and forestry.

“The agricultural sector is a strategic and priority sector for NMB. This motivates us to collaborate with NMB Foundation in equipping these farmers with the skills they need. We promise to provide affordable loans and agricultural tools to enhance the production of seaweed here in Zanzibar,” Mlozi concluded.