Seaweed farming: A path to empowering women

Seaweed and women's empowerment may not sound like an obvious fit, but that is the quiet change taking place along the coastline.

- Lalita Panicker

Seaweed and women's empowerment may not sound like an obvious fit, but that is the quiet change taking place along the coastline. India's seaweed industry is largely untapped, contributing only 0.003% in global trade value. However, the World Bank has identified 10 emerging seaweed markets/applications with a potential of $11.8 billion by 2030.

Seaweed lies at the intersection of India's green economy, coastal development, and bio-economy goals. India is home to over 844 seaweed species but only 60 are commercially cultivated. A paltry three species are currently farmed at scale in regions such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to boost seaweed production to 1.12 million tonnes in five years. Women can play a big role in this expansion. From female seaweed diving squads harvesting the plants, to women driving innovation in labs, supply chains, and boardrooms, seaweed is emerging as an industry that's seeing women play a key role at every rung of the ladder.