Naidu directs officials to develop economic model for seaweed cultivation along Andhra Pradesh coast

During a review meeting on seaweed farming, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to develop a comprehensive economic model for seaweed cultivation to promote sustainable livelihoods, particularly for Self-Help Group women in coastal districts. He instructed officials to work with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to prepare a detailed report on cultivation practices and income potential, to create value chains for processing seaweed into various products, and to scale production for commercial use. He highlighted seaweed as a potential raw material for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries and urged tapping national and international markets by building a production, processing, and export ecosystem. He also interacted virtually with experts from Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute to seek inputs on scaling up seaweed farming and needed technological support.