Mother Sea—a new frontier in farming. Seaweed cultivation is a booming global business for food, agriculture and biofuels that also helps restore marine ecosystems. For rural women in coastal areas, it’s an innovative way to earn for their families.

In 2023, AMMACHI Labs began training women in villages in Rameswaram District in Tamil Nadu, alongside helping the women form collective businesses.

The project marks a major transformation for them. By village tradition, women did not enter the sea, and naturally, many were afraid to swim. We are providing training and equipment for safe farming, as well as empowering them as entrepreneurs for unique products. 

Overcoming their fears, the women are now earning independently for their families. One of the farmers shared, “Before, we used to help our husbands. Now, they help us.”