Gujarat to promote seaweed cultivation along its coastline

Council For Scientific and Industrial Research and CSMCRI have introduced the seaweed 'Kappahycus Alvarezii' in India. It finds application in several industries such as pet food, breweries, fertiliser, etc.

"We have inked an MoU with CSMCRI for exclusive rights on seaweed introduced by them through technology transfer," said Milind Torawane, MD, GLPC.

"In the first year we seek to generate livelihood for 2,500 lower income group families, either by forming Self Help Groups or on producers group model," he said. This would be expanded to 10,000 families over the next three years.

The project would start from Jaffrabad tomorrow, where symbolically 60 bamboo rafts would be put up in the sea for seaweed cultivation.

Around 1,900 areas suitable for cultivation along Gujarat coast had been mapped by satellite, Torawane said.

This red seaweed is already cultivated along the Tamil Nadu coast, and locals there are earning Rs 6,000 to 12,000 per month, according to officials.

The seaweed matures in 45 days from planting, with each raft yielding 250 kg of produce. It fetches Rs 2-3 per kg, institute sources said.

Five locations in Saurashtra had been identified to generate 'germplasm' (seed), said C R K Reddy, a senior scientist at CSMCRI. (More)