Sri Vijaya Puram, April 25: In a bid to unlock the vast potential of the seaweed sector in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Department of Fisheries in collaboration with NIOT-ACOSTI organized a one-day Seaweed Cultivation Workshop at the NIOT campus in Dollygunj on Friday. The event drew over 55 participants, including Self Help Group (SHG) members, local entrepreneurs, scientists, and government officials, all aiming to explore seaweed farming as a viable source of sustainable livelihood.
The workshop was inaugurated by Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman, who served as the chief guest. Also in attendance were Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra, Director of Fisheries, Dr. K. Gopal, Joint Director of Fisheries, Gurjeet Kaur, Block Development Officer, Prothrapur Block, and senior representatives from NIOT-ACOSTI, NABARD, and ICAR-CMFRI.
In his address, the Deputy Commissioner appreciated the Fisheries Department’s initiative to bring together all key stakeholders, scientific institutions, financial bodies, and local communities, onto one platform. He highlighted the untapped economic potential of seaweed cultivation in the Islands, especially as an additional income source for SHGs and coastal families.
Director of Fisheries, Rajendra, welcomed the attendees and reiterated the department’s commitment to engaging local communities through the implementation of seaweed farming under various schemes from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and NABARD. She encouraged women and local entrepreneurs to seize this opportunity and contribute to a sustainable blue economy.
The technical sessions delved into the practical aspects of seaweed farming. The Officer-in-Charge of NIOT-ACOSTI shared updates on ongoing research and the institute’s role in capacity building and product innovation using seaweed. Dr. Vinod and Dr. B. Johnson from ICAR-CMFRI conducted a virtual session on culture techniques for Gracilaria edulis, a commercially important seaweed species in the region.
A live session by Dr. M. Savurirajan, Scientist at NIOT-ACOSTI, introduced participants to value addition and product development possibilities using seaweed, ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics and food supplements.
One of the highlights of the workshop was the hands-on practical demonstration of raft fabrication and seed inoculation techniques led by NIOT-ACOSTI experts. These practical insights were crucial for the SHG members and budding entrepreneurs seeking to translate training into income-generating practices.
On the financial front, Rahul Damari, DGM, NABARD elaborated on funding and support available for coastal businesses, while Pradeep, Deputy Director of Fisheries from Tamil Nadu, shared a successful commercial model of seaweed farming that has flourished in his state.
The workshop concluded with an interactive Q&A session, followed by certificate distribution and a vote of thanks, marking a promising step towards creating a resilient and economically empowered coastal community in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
