Alongside Fisheries, Seaweed Farming Emerges as a Nutrition-Rich Livelihood Opportunity

India, with its 7,500-kilometre-long coastline, holds immense untapped potential beneath its seas. While traditional fisheries continue to support coastal livelihoods, seaweed farming is now emerging as a sustainable and promising alternative source of income for coastal communities.

What is Seaweed?

Seaweed is a marine plant that grows in oceans and seas. It is rich in nutrients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and over 54 trace elements. Seaweed is known to help combat serious health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure. It also boosts immunity and supports overall well-being.
Seaweed farming does not require land, freshwater, fertilizers, or pesticides, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable form of cultivation.

A Growing Global Market:

Globally, the seaweed industry is valued at approximately USD 5.6 billion, with Japan, China, and South Korea being its largest consumers. According to a World Bank report, this market is projected to grow to USD 11.8 billion by 2030. In India, seaweed production is steadily increasing. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the government has set a target of producing 1.12 million tonnes of seaweed in the next five years.

Applications and Industrial Demand:

Seaweed is not just a food product—it is also used in a wide range of industries.
Brown seaweed is processed into alginate, used in food, cosmetics, and medical products.
Red seaweed yields agar and carrageenan, used in desserts, jams, lab cultures, dairy products, ice creams, and toothpaste.

Promoting Seaweed Cultivation in India:

The Government of India, along with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), is actively promoting seaweed farming in collaboration with state governments and research institutions. Under the PMMSY, ₹640 crore has been allocated specifically for seaweed development. Of this, ₹194.09 crore is being invested in projects such as the Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu and a Seaweed Brood Bank in Daman and Diu. To date, 46,095 rafts and 65,330 monoline tubenets have been approved for seaweed farming.

Key Benefits of Seaweed Farming:

1. Biostimulants for Agriculture: Seaweed-based biostimulants enhance soil health and crop productivity. These have been recognized under India’s Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
2. Support for Organic Farming: Schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the Northeast Region (MOVCDNER) promote seaweed-based organic fertilizers.
3. Environmental Benefits: Seaweed farming absorbs CO₂, contributing to the fight against climate change. It also improves marine ecosystems by purifying water and providing habitat for marine life.
4. Economic Opportunities: Cultivating varieties like Kappaphycus alvarezii can generate up to ₹13.28 lakh per hectare annually for farmers.

A new wave through Tissue Culture:

The CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI) has introduced a tissue culture technique to boost the cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii in Tamil Nadu. This variety is a key source of carrageenan used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Farmers in districts like Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, and Tuticorin produced 30 tonnes of seaweed in just two cycles using tissue-cultured seedlings, with 20–30% higher yields and better quality. Seaweed farming is fast becoming a cornerstone of nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, and coastal livelihood in India. With strong policy support and scientific innovation, this sector is not only strengthening rural economies but also enhancing India’s presence in the global seaweed industry.

Read More- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samriddhi Yojana: Know the Benefits and Application Process