Seaweeds as Agricultural Crops in India: New Vistas

Abstract

The seaweeds are a diverse group of large marine macroalgae that are important to coastal marine environment like land plants to the terrestrial world. These are primary producers and like land plants support other marine life through the production of oxygen and contribution to marine food webs and by providing structure and habitat for fish and other faunas. Historically, coastal peoples have relied on seaweeds for food, minerals, medicine, insulation, fertilizer, and fodder. Today, seaweeds are a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide, providing food, fertilizers, nutritional supplementation, and valuable phycocolloids like agar, carrageenan, and alginate. Although wild harvest supports a significant portion of the seaweed industry, there is an ever-increasing amount of seaweed production from aquaculture to meet the current demand. Seaweed aquaculture makes up a significant portion of organisms cultured worldwide (~19 million metric tons) with a value of ~US$5.65 billion. Aquaculture production is dominated by kelps (Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida), tropical red algal species (Kappaphycus and Eucheuma), nori (including Porphyra and Pyropia species), and the red algal agarophyte species known as Gracilaria. China is the world’s top producer of cultured seaweeds, though other countries in Asia (Japan, Korea, and the Philippines) and in Europe (France, Ireland, Norway, Scotland, and Spain) also grow seaweed.

The red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii (previously called Eucheuma cottonii) is the major source of carrageenan, a hydrocolloid used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. Since its natural stock became scant, cultivation of this seaweed was first started in the early 1960s in the Philippines to meet the world demand. Later, Kappaphycus farming was introduced to Indonesia, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Madagascar. The current annual world production of K. alvarezii is about 200 KMT, and its value-added product carrageenan is about 50,000 MT year⁻¹. In India, commercial faming of K. alvarezii was commenced in 2001 in Tamil Nadu. While fish-catching is diminishing day by day and income is not predictable in these days, K. alvarezii farming has become real alternative livelihood to the coastal people of Tamil Nadu. The average monthly income of a cultivator ranges from Rs 15,000 to 30,000 based on his efforts and volume of cultivation area which he operates.

Extract obtained from fresh form of K. alvarezii is a rich source of potassium with other micro- and macronutrients. It has also naturally occurring growth hormones and amino acids and is capable of improving crop yields of a variety of crops anywhere from 15 % to 40 %. This provides a first ever opportunity to the farmers to have access to organic growth boosters at an affordable price in India. Other products manufactured from K. alvarezii are different grades of carrageenan and animal feeds. Farming and processing of K. alvarezii or any seaweed is the first of its kind in India.

Annexure 1

Address By His Excellency Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, at the Bicentennial Celebration of the State Bank of India on 30 May 2006

Bio-products from Seaweed: Coastal PURA Employment Generator

Scientists of the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, have developed an important thickening agent carrageenan using seaweed called Kappaphycus alvarezii that bestows useful properties to many commercial products such as toothpaste, ice cream, pet food, and soft capsules. I am happy that SBI is providing a loan of up to Rs. 5.0 lakh without collateral security to the women self-help groups in the Mandapam region of Tamil Nadu for cultivation of seaweed. The scientists have developed a unique technology of liquefying seaweed without adding any water, and thereafter they have separated the solid from the liquid to obtain two products. The solid is the source of carrageenan, and the liquid has been found to be a very useful plant nutrient rich in potassium and organic growth-promoting hormones. This sap has been used in a variety of crops such as sugarcane, paddy, maize, pulses, and several fruits and vegetables. The productivity increase has been in the range of 20–40 % in different regions for different plant varieties as per studies conducted by regional institutions. This highly innovative process of producing useful products from the fresh harvest of the seaweed is being done for the first time in the world.

I would suggest seaweed cultivation, and value addition should be taken up as a mission mode project of fisherman cooperatives and self-help groups of the coastal areas particularly in the PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) complexes in partnership with scientists, industrialists, and SBI. This will enable creation of industries for producing carrageenan and bio-fertilizers in the coastal PURA itself resulting in substantial amount of revenue increase to the fishermen and farmers.

	“Seaweed cultivation neither requires land nor irrigation water nor any fertilizer; instead it yields fertilizers, which will be used in land-based crops”
	Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India
	“Scientific intervention and technologies hold the key to improving productivity in Indian agriculture… We now need to focus on a Blue Revolution… fisheries… ornamental fishes and seaweeds… We need greater research and promotion of coastal seaweeds… Coastal seaweeds have great potential for human health care and agriculture… We should work on scientific methods of seaweed agriculture. Seaweeds are important raw materials… and can play a significant role in improving crop productivity…”
	Shri Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister of India, 29 July 2014 at the 86th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi