India has the potential to produce around 9.7 million tonnes of seaweed per year, as against the paltry 34,000 tonnes it produced last year, according to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) which has identified 342 potential sites in the country for cultivating marine plants and algae.
CMFRI, which is affiliated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has laid emphasis on upscaling seaweed farming in India as it has the potential of being a major contributor to the global seaweed production which is worth billions of dollars, the institute said in a release.
Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI, said global production of seaweed -- which comprises various marine plant species and algae -- in 2022 was 35 million tonnes so far which was worth around USD 16.5 billion, according to the release.
He was speaking at a National Campaign on 'Non-conventional Aquaculture Systems' organised by the CMFRI here as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' on Wednesday, it said.
At the event, Dr Gopalakrishnan pointed out that the government has earmarked Rs 640 crore exclusively under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to promote seaweed culture with a targeted production of more than 11.2 lakh tonnes by 2025, the release said.
"The CMFRI has successfully standardised the practice of Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) which enables cage farming or bivalve farming along with seaweed farming in coastal waters," he is quoted as having said at the event.
He was also of the view that this technology would help popularise and boost seaweed farming across the coastal states, the release said.
The meet also highlighted the importance of bivalve farming, another non-conventional aquaculture practice, it said.
According to the CMFRI estimates, India's bivalve production in 2021 was 98,000 tonnes.
"CMFRI's recent success includes commercial production of seeds of green and brown mussels and cultchless spat production of edible oysters with a high survival rate at Vizhinjam. More than 6,000 women self-help groups are engaging with bivalve farming under the guidance of the CMFRI," the release said.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
You’ve hit your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Quarterly Starter
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online
Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app