In a significant step toward expanding market opportunities for coastal women involved in sustainable ocean farming, scientists Dr. Purnit and Dr. Milan from Climacrew visited the women of the Seaweed Cultivation Project in Olakkuda, Tamil Nadu, on November 11, 2025. The visit focused on assessing the dried Kappaphycus produced by the women and exploring potential buyer partnerships.
During the review, the scientists praised the high quality of the dried seaweed and expressed strong interest in future collaborations. Their feedback highlighted the growing market potential for community-produced marine products and the readiness of the women’s groups to meet emerging demand.
The team later met with community members Abilakka, Soundari Sister, and Gnana Mary, who sampled the seaweed pickle prepared as part of the project’s value-addition efforts. They appreciated its taste, texture, and quality, and assured that further feedback would be shared after discussions with senior officials.
Visitors were also presented with glycerine soap samples made from locally cultivated seaweed. The products drew keen interest, with the team acknowledging the diverse applications and economic promise of marine resources for coastal communities.
This engagement marks another milestone in strengthening livelihood opportunities for women through sustainable seaweed cultivation while advancing multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham leads these Ocean Farming initiatives in partnership with Transworld, the GEF Small Grants Programme (Operational Phase 7), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, and TERI – The Energy and Resources Institute.
