Seaweed cultivation: Untapped potential of India

Abstract

India’s long, rich bio-diverse coastline of around 8000 km provides livelihood to millions of fish farmers. While traditional aqua farming has helped shape the coastal economy over the years, the country has been rather obtuse in adopting seaweed cultivation, an allied agricultural sector that holds immense prospects for the nation’s economy. In recent years, seaweed farming gained popularity due to the growing demand for commercial seaweed polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, ulvan, carrageenan and other bioactive compounds having potential health benefits. Considering the use of seaweeds as a renewable source of food, animal feed supplement, fertilizer, pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals, the Department of Fisheries, under the ‘Blue Revolution’ scheme, has started promoting seaweed cultivation in India since 2015–16. As a result, several Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and coastal Fishermen Associations have come forward to take up seaweed cultivation as an additional livelihood option and proven its potential in empowering coastal women.