Turkey supports Kenyan coastal community with seaweed fertilizer plant

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Turkey’s state-run aid agency on Tuesday said that it had supported a Kenyan community group establish a plant to make fertilizer from seaweed.

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) donated to the Pwani Marine group a motorboat for collection of seaweed and a motorized rickshaw to support logistics and equipment for the production of organic fertilizer, said a TIKA statement.

The equipment will “not only expedite the production process, and increase the availability of the product to consumers, (but will) also increase farm yields, largely enhance food security, and create sustainable agriculture through the use of the innovative and environmentally sensitive fertilizer,” it said.

TIKA said this project would create job opportunities for local youths, strengthen marine conservation through environmentally friendly clearing and collection of seaweed, and promote the growth of organic farm produce.

Dense seaweed has cost fisher communities in Kenya considerable funds to manage, due to how invasive it is, and marine experts have warned that invasive seaweed often smothers coral reefs and degrade environments needed by fish to breed.

In November Kenya’s fertilizer prices hit a record high, forcing farmers to dig deep into their pockets, with many experts warning of an increase in food prices next year due to the high cost of fertilizer.