A three-day seaweed culinary workshop and exhibition organised by Amrita University in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu has highlighted the potential of seaweed as a sustainable livelihood resource for coastal women.
The programme ran from October 3–5 with the aim of helping women’s self-help groups engaged in seaweed cultivation develop value-added food products and gain skills to enter niche food markets. We are supporting the women to establish this new livelihood to advance both economic independence and preservation of marine ecosystems.
The initiative brought together participants from five coastal villages and offered hands-on training in recipe development, kitchen safety, hygiene, and small-scale production techniques.
Renowned chef Harsh Dixit and culinary consultant Kanika Shetty joined the sessions, sharing practical insights on how to turn locally harvested seaweed into commercially viable dishes.
During field visits to seaweed farms in Olaikuda and Sambai, participants discussed challenges in cultivation and strategies to strengthen the value chain—from harvesting and processing to packaging and marketing.
Chef Dixit emphasised that even minimal but well-planned kitchen setups could support small enterprises and encouraged the women to focus on a few signature products for consistent quality.
The highlight of the event was a seaweed food exhibition at Amrita Vidyalayam Ramanathapuram, one of our schools in the region. The women showcased an innovative range of dishes such as seaweed biryani, cutlets, pakoras, and halwa. The showcase demonstrated the versatility of seaweed in Indian cuisine and its potential for wider consumer appeal.
“The creativity and commitment shown by these women exemplifies how local marine resources can be transformed into sustainable livelihood opportunities,” said Chef Dixit, who also pledged to donate essential kitchen equipment to support their future product development.
The workshop concluded with a planning session on refining recipes, ensuring quality control, and exploring opportunities for showcasing the products in urban markets.
The seaweed livelihood initiative is part of a larger community empowerment programme led by Amrita University, in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, TERI, and ESRI. The aim is to strengthen coastal resilience and sustainable resource use.
