Social upliftment of coastal fisher women through seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty) farming in Tamil Nadu, India

A growth study of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed cultivation was conducted using the raft method and by implementing best practices in three coastal districts: Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, India. From the growth data, economics and self-help group (SHG) per individual income were also calculated. Cultivation was conducted by brown monotype using raft method. The study was conducted from January 2008 to December 2010. The maximum average freshweed per raft yield was 260.98 +/- 3.45 kg (in 2010) in Ramanathapuram and the lowest was 172.89 +/- 2.77 kg (in 2009) in Pudukkottai after 45 days. The maximum average daily growth rate (ADGR) was 3.27 +/- 0.41 % (in 2010) in Ramanathapuram and 2.35 +/- 0.18 % (in 2009) in Pudukkottai after 45 days. One SHG of five members requires a working capital and total investment of Rs 225,000 (US$4,091). Best practices to get good income were implemented in 2010 in all three districts, and their average approximate income Increased from Rs 35,000 (US$636) to more than 50,000 (US$909) SHG(-1) month(-1). The farming of K. alvarezii by using best practices has brought tremendous social impact to coastal fisher women.