AMMACHI Labs Strengthens Women-Led Ocean Farming Livelihoods in Tamil Nadu

Members of AMMACHI Labs Ocean Farming team continue to work closely with rural coastal communities in Tamil Nadu, supporting sustainable and women-led livelihoods through indigenous seaweed cultivation.

Across selected villages identified through detailed research and community engagement, the team has introduced a structured financial incentive model to ensure income stability from the very beginning. Women participants receive daily payments on working days for activities such as planting, monitoring, and harvesting seaweed. In addition, essential cultivation infrastructure—including rafts, ropes, and seedlings—is provided, creating a strong foundation for long-term ownership and profitability.

Participants retain full ownership of their earnings, harvest, and cultivation assets. After the completion of the first two cultivation cycles (approximately 20 days each), a portion of the income is reinvested into a shared group fund. This collective savings mechanism enhances financial resilience and supports the expansion of cultivation activities in subsequent cycles.

The project focuses on Gracilaria, an indigenous seaweed species found along Tamil Nadu’s southern coast. Unlike invasive varieties, Gracilaria supports local fish habitats and does not damage coral reef ecosystems. It also offers significant value-addition potential, being processed into products such as pickles and soaps that are already reaching markets through established distribution networks.

By integrating fair income models with ecological responsibility, this initiative continues to build resilient, ocean-based livelihoods rooted in local ecosystems and traditional knowledge systems.

The project contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,