India’s Seaweed Potential

Government of India has recently proposed a multi-purpose Seaweed Park to be set up in Tamil Nadu as part of promoting seaweed cultivation.

Challenges

• Seaweed farming is an emerging sector with potential to transform the lives of coastal communities and will provide large employment and additional income.
• Currently, seaweed production is not up to the demand of market.
• Yield per hectare is low.
• Less farmers and entrepreneurs are interested in seaweed cultivation.

Objectives

• Immediate focus is to increase the production level to match the processing demand in a phased manner.
• Increase yield by seed replacement.
• Increase production by increasing the number of farmers.

Components

• Infrastructure development to drive R&D initiatives for production of quality seed material.
• Single window support for the entrepreneurs, processors, etc.
• Access of information on schemes, licenses/approvals required, while also providing space to set up processing centres.
• Empowerment of Fisherwomen.
• Helps in regulation of procurement price by avoiding middle-men.
• Easy availability of good quality seeds throughout the year for continuous culture.
• Seaweed Park will help in bringing more investments to the industry as in case of finfish and shrimp industries.
• Product diversification and export of various value-added products from seaweed.
• Branding of Indian products in export market.

The commercially exploited seaweed species in India mainly include Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracilaria edulis, Gelidiella acerosa, Sargassum spp. and Turbinaria spp. Seaweeds are valued for commercial products such as Karrageenan and Agar besides being used for the production of polysaccharides, fertilizer, sludge and other high-value products such as nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals for use against various lifestyle diseases.