Vast opportunities in seaweed cultivation - NARA

By Gamini Warushamana

Seaweed cultivation is a lucrative new business venture and vast export opportunities are available, said the chairman of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Dr. S.G. Samarasundara.

The first seaweed cultivation project has been extremely successful and its harvesting ratio was 1:10, he said.Dr. Samarasundara said that since this is an agricultural venture investors and people reluctant to invest or engage in fishing can take to seaweed farming.

It is totally a farming plant and NARA is promoting this business by inviting new investors.

Seaweed exports can earn huge amounts of foreign exchange while the people who engage in it can earn over Rs. 100,000 monthly, he said.

The first project was launched with Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Limited in Mannar. There is a huge potential to expand the business to the North and the South of the country.

The first project, implemented in the North Western coastal area, assists local fisher families to cultivate naturally, a specific type of seaweed that has a growing global demand, especially in the food industry. The first harvest of seaweed was exported recently.

He said that the Mannar sea basin has been selected for the project considering its climatic conditions which is suitable for the natural cultivation of seaweed.

Carrageenan, a molecular element extracted from the seaweed is used in the food industry, due to its gelling, thickening and stabilising properties. Dr. Samarasundara said that seaweed is used in the manufacture of chocolates and biscuits and various other food and beverages and there are markets even in India and China.

NARA has also introduced a 100 percent vegetarian yoghurt.