Z’bar seaweed farmers set to access digital financial services through Mixx

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR’S seaweed farmers, most of them women, are set to gain access to digital payments, savings and financing services under a new partnership between Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), Mixx Tanzania and Yas Business.

The partnership, signed in Zanzibar on Wednesday, will initially benefit farmers participating in ZMBF’s Seaweed Socio-Enterprise Programme by enabling them to receive payments digitally while accessing financial services designed to support and grow their businesses.

The initiative seeks to address challenges faced by small-scale farmers, including access to secure and timely payments, savings and financing.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Zanzibar Minister for Communication, Information Technology and Innovation, Mr Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, said digital services could expand economic opportunities for women and young people.

“We want to see women and young people engaged in economic activities, particularly seaweed farmers, benefiting from technology. This partnership will make services easier to access, improve transparency in payments and create more opportunities for people to improve their livelihoods,” he said.

Mixx Chief Executive Officer Ms Angelica Pesha said the partnership goes beyond digitising payments to providing farmers with financial services that can help strengthen their businesses.

“For a seaweed farmer, receiving money safely and on time is important, but that should not be the end of it. We want her to also have access to services that can help her save, access capital and grow her business,” Ms Pesha said.

She said farmers would have access to services including Kilimo Pesa and Mixx Kikoba, which provide financial solutions for farmers and community savings groups.

Mixx already provides digital payment services to farmers in Zanzibar through its partnership with the Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC).

According to the company, more than 48bn/- was paid to clove farmers through Mixx last year, enabling them to receive payments directly through their mobile phones.

The company said it had also contributed 350m/- towards insurance coverage for clove farmers over the past three years and distributed 25,000 clove seedlings free of charge to farmers in Zanzibar this year.

Beyond agriculture, Mixx is the digital payments partner for ZanBus electric buses, while its Mixx Kikoba platform enables community groups to save, contribute funds, purchase shares and lend money among members digitally.

Under the agreement, Mixx will also support other ZMBF initiatives, including digital registration, payments and fundraising for the Mariam Mwinyi Walkathon.

The partners will further explore digital solutions for health programmes, including the Afya Bora Medical Camps.

Yas Business Chief Officer Mr Norman Kiondo said Yas Business would provide connectivity and digital solutions to support the implementation and monitoring of ZMBF programmes.

“We will work with ZMBF to strengthen connectivity, internet services and digital systems that will make registration, reporting and programme monitoring easier,” Mr Kiondo said.

ZMBF Chief Executive Officer Ms Rehema Tukai said integrating financial services into the Seaweed Socio-Enterprise Programme would help farmers move beyond receiving payments to building stronger and more sustainable businesses.

“We want seaweed farmers not only to receive their payments more easily, but also to develop a savings culture, access capital and grow their economic activities,” Ms Tukai said.

She said the partnership would also enable ZMBF to use digital platforms to reach more beneficiaries and improve the management and monitoring of its programmes across Zanzibar.

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