Seaweed farming has begun in mainland Tanzania as well. Many villagers, both men and women, initially joined in the venture. Slowly, men left the industry, and now more than 90 per cent of the farmers on Unguja Island are women. Because so many of the farmers are women, farming seaweed has changed life in the villages. The number of children suffering from malnutrition has decreased, which indicates that the health of the mothers has improved.
Women also have economic power now.
This has enabled them to take a greater part in the decision-making at home. Men, who are mostly employed in fishing, have accepted women's making significant economic contributions to the household. Since fish catches in Zanzibar have been decreasing over the years, contributions from women have been important. Seaweed farming has also fostered self-employment, bringing youths who migrated to towns back to the villages to work for themselves, thus increasing the population of the villages. Women seaweed farmers are able to buy necessary household items.