Strengthening Women-Led Ocean-Based Livelihoods in Uttara Kannada

The AMMACHI Labs Ocean Farming team continued its on-ground engagement in Mudga and Devbagh villages as part of ongoing efforts to explore and support women-led seaweed cultivation across Uttara Kannada. These activities form a crucial part of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s community-driven approach to developing sustainable marine livelihoods.

Community & Institutional Engagement

In Mudga village, the team met with the Society President, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, and local leaders to introduce the Seaweed Project and its learning-oriented implementation strategy. Community members were briefed about upcoming student field visits, which will contribute to documentation, participatory learning, and continued engagement at the grassroots level.

Local leadership and representatives from the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) encouraged active SHG participation and highlighted the government’s interest in promoting seaweed-based livelihoods. Women and community members openly raised concerns regarding site feasibility, tidal patterns, and sand quality. The team addressed these points by explaining that the project will use careful assessment and pilot-based implementation, including testing multiple cultivation models suited to varying coastal conditions.

Departmental Coordination

In Karwar, the Ocean Farming team held discussions with officials from the Fisheries Department and the Forest Department. The meetings focused on planned activities, strategies for SHG involvement, and the potential for seaweed cultivation to serve as a viable women-led livelihood model. Discussions also explored future collaboration opportunities in seagrass restoration and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)—reflecting a shared commitment to both ecological health and sustainable income generation.

Site Assessments in Devbagh

Detailed site assessments were conducted at the Devbagh backwaters and beachside, accompanied by government representatives and community members. The backwaters demonstrated strong potential for seaweed farming due to calm waters, rich biodiversity, and the active involvement of local women in fishing and oyster collection.

Follow-up visits to Mudga included assessments of shoreline conditions and community readiness. Encouraging observations were made even during high-tide conditions, indicating promising feasibility for pilot-scale implementation.

Across both villages, women expressed strong interest in participating in upcoming training programmes. Discussions also focused on defining roles, coordinating with local institutions, and outlining the steps required to support sustainable, long-term implementation.

A Collaborative, Grounded Approach

These ongoing engagements emphasise a thoughtful and collaborative methodology—listening to community perspectives, working closely with government partners, and carefully identifying where skills training, technical guidance, and institutional support can empower women to build resilient ocean-based livelihoods.

AMMACHI Labs’ women empowerment initiatives in Karnataka are implemented by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, with support from Esri India.

Supported United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 5 – Gender Equality
• SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
• SDG 14 – Life Below Water
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals