A significant breakthrough has been achieved in Lakshadweep’s economic landscape as the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Cochin, reports a triumphant outcome in its commercial-scale pilot seaweed farming initiative during the 2022-23 season. Executed in collaboration with the TSC-Purple Turtle Company, Tuticorin, and the Lakshadweep Administration, this endeavour holds promise for boosting the archipelago’s economy and creating a new avenue of income, particularly for local women.
Initiated on the smaller island of Chetlath, with a population of around 2,500, the seaweed farming project established six plots, each comprising 100 tube nets, by September 2022. The initial harvest, completed within 45 days, yielded an impressive 15 tons. Subsequent successes led to horizontal expansion, resulting in a total of 30 plots with 3,000 net tubes by November 2022. The project further extended its footprint to neighboring atolls of Kiltan and Kadmat.
Women emerged as the cornerstone of this initiative, constituting the primary workforce. Approximately 20 women from various Self Help Groups were engaged in activities such as tube net preparation, seeding, and harvesting. Over the 8-month cultivation period, the program generated nearly 3,000 man-days, with an average daily earning of Rs 380.
The positive response from women participants garnered attention during the visit of India’s Honourable President, Smt. Droupathi Murmu, to Lakshadweep in April 2023. A delegation of women beneficiaries from the seaweed enterprise development program had the privilege of meeting her on April 19, 2023, in Kavaratti.
The ICAR-CMFRI’s involvement in seaweed cultivation dates back to August 2020, initiated under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) of the ICAR, New Delhi. The ongoing exploration, capacity building, and foundation development phase involve collaborative efforts with the Department of Fisheries, Lakshadweep, private companies, and local communities. Training programs, farming trials, and consultations have paved the way for the first-ever commercial-scale pilot farming led by TSC-Purple Turtle Company in the island territory.
The ICAR-CMFRI advocates a dual strategy for seaweed enterprise development, encouraging private companies to engage in commercial farming of high-value indigenous species while promoting local participation through contract farming. The Lakshadweep Administration actively endorses government initiatives such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Mudra Loans to facilitate fisheries sector development, expecting positive outcomes for the seaweed enterprise.
Future steps include the establishment of seaweed hatcheries, seed reserves, health monitoring facilities, and incubation centres for mariculture. The ICAR-CMFRI, in collaboration with NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and the Lakshadweep Administration, aims to provide scientific information, skill development, technical support, and policy guidance for sustainable and inclusive seaweed enterprise development in the island territory.