Economic Impact of the Dagaa Processing Industry on a Coastal Village in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examined the structure and development of the dagaa processing industry and the resultant income generation in a coastal village in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Dagaa are several species of small, pelagic fish, primarily in family Engraulidae. This new industry has developed in the past decade in response to the demands for fish products in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the destination for most of the dried dagaa products produced in Tanzania. Here, I examine the process of producing dried dagaa products and the wage systems used in the industry. Then, I examine the economic impacts of the dagaa processing industry in the study area, where approximately 50% of the adult population obtain cashearning opportunities from the dagaa processing industry and the income they receive is sufficient to cover average household expenditure. Finally, I examine the secondary effects conferred by the dagaa processing industry such as increased financial stability and food security.