Amaravati, May 7 (BNP): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to develop a structured economic model to promote seaweed cultivation as a sustainable livelihood option for coastal communities, with a strong focus on women’s self-help groups (SHGs) and fishermen.

Chairing a review meeting at the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister underlined that Andhra Pradesh’s extensive coastline offers a significant untapped opportunity to build a scalable seaweed-based economy that can generate steady income and strengthen rural coastal livelihoods.

He called for a shift from small-scale cultivation to a commercially viable ecosystem, where seaweed farming is linked with processing, value addition, and market access, ensuring long-term income stability for SHG members and fishing communities.

As part of the initiative, the Chief Minister held consultations with leading national research institutions, including the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture, and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, to integrate scientific expertise into large-scale cultivation and commercialization efforts.

He also instructed officials to collaborate with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to prepare a detailed roadmap covering cultivation techniques, processing models, and income enhancement strategies for women-led enterprises.

Officials said the government is also exploring the development of value-added seaweed products for use in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food processing, and other emerging industries, positioning Andhra Pradesh to tap into fast-growing global demand.

The Chief Minister emphasized that seaweed cultivation can become a new pillar of the coastal economy, combining environmental sustainability with inclusive growth. He added that the initiative will also help diversify income sources for fishing communities and create new entrepreneurship opportunities for rural women.

The proposed framework aims to integrate research institutions, government support, and private sector participation to develop Andhra Pradesh as a leading hub in India’s emerging blue economy sector.