Mandwa's Seaweed Revolution: Alibag's First Commercial Farm Transforms Koli Community
For the past few months, the waters near Mandwa have been transformed by a brown, slimy—yet highly profitable—crop. In a small, sheltered cove close to the jetty, Alibag's—and the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region's—first commercial seaweed farm is thriving. Here, 15 tonnes of seaweed are suspended from 50 bamboo rafts and 20 longlines, signaling a new era for local fishers.
From Fishing to Farming: A Community's Adaptation
Each raft measures 12-by-12 feet and is strung with lines of the algae Kappaphycus alvarezii, resembling a fuzzy fretboard. Fishers-turned-seaweed farmers navigate their canoes between these beds, regularly checking the lines in preparation for the upcoming harvest. This shift represents a significant change for Mandwa's Koli community, who have traditionally relied solely on fishing for their livelihood.
"We're testing the waters," explains Mahesh Dhake, 42, a former fisher who left the profession due to declining catches and took a shore job in Uran. "Only half the community today relies exclusively on fishing. And almost all of us are always on the lookout for supplementary income."
The opportunity emerged in October last year when the Mauli Macchimar Sahakari Society, a fishing cooperative Dhake belongs to, partnered with ClimaCrew. This aquaculture company specializes in incubating seaweed farms, training communities, and purchasing the produce for market distribution.
The Farming Process and Economic Impact
Before establishing the farm, ClimaCrew conducted thorough site studies to assess factors like wave activity, seabed type, and water quality. "The area must be unpolluted and free of boat traffic, which is why we conduct both GIS and in situ surveys," notes Devleena Bhattacharjee, director at ClimaCrew.
Seaweed cultivation takes approximately 45 days from seed to harvest and can be practiced year-round, excluding the monsoon months. Dhake reports earning Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per harvest, with Mandwa having completed four harvests so far. This has boosted his overall income by about 30%. Wet seaweed sells for Rs 20 per kilogram, while dried seaweed commands Rs 130 per kilogram.
Currently, 11 members of the cooperative are involved in the project, as many fishers have shifted to Alibag's hospitality sector or Mumbai's labor markets. The division of labor sees five men receiving a percentage of total earnings, while six women earn a daily wage of Rs 400. The cooperative attributes this gap to differences in labor and overhead costs. Women handle seed line preparation, sorting, drying, and packing, whereas men construct and tow bamboo rafts, monitor the site, and manage harvesting.
Seaweed: A Potential Powerhouse of the Blue Economy
In the ocean, seaweed plays a crucial role by sequestering carbon and filtering heavy metals. When harvested, its bioactive compounds—agar, carrageenan, and alginates—are utilized across various industries. These include thickening agents in ice cream and yogurt, enhancers in skincare products, and components in pharmaceuticals. Additionally, seaweed finds applications in fertilizers, biofuels, animal feed, and biodegradable packaging.
The Indian government has promoted seaweed farming through the 2020 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), allocating Rs 640 crore to develop the sector with a production target of 1.12 million tonnes by 2025. However, progress has been slow, with 2024 production at only 74,083 tonnes and just Rs 195 crore approved for projects by 2025.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Several obstacles hinder the sector's growth. Bhattacharjee points out a basic lack of awareness about seaweed farming and its market opportunities, with few players connecting producers to markets. Farmers also lack insurance against cyclones, oil spills, or accidents that could destroy rafts. Unlike Tamil Nadu, which has a seed bank, or Gujarat, which is developing one, Maharashtra has no such facility.
"A major obstacle is the lack of a single window for approvals," says Bhattacharjee. Currently, permissions must be obtained from multiple bodies, including the fisheries department, panchayat, and maritime board.
Neelkanth Mishra, founder and CEO of Jaljeevika, highlights the lack of market linkages. "A handful of government institutions focus on R&D and training, but thereafter, seaweed farmers don't know what to do," he explains. His nonprofit has trained women seaweed farmers in Ratnagiri, growing their numbers from 20 to 200. Mishra advocates for guiding farmers toward entrepreneurship by facilitating access to subsidies, technologies, permits, and product development training.
Neha Jain, founder of ZeroCircle, notes another issue: inconsistency in quality due to poor technical control in cultivation, including inadequate strain selection.
Back in Mandwa, Dhake remains focused on the immediate future. "I hope the farm continues to do well," he says. "I want to save enough to invest in an aquaculture business of my own." This sentiment reflects the broader potential of seaweed farming to not only supplement incomes but also foster entrepreneurial growth within coastal communities.
