National Fisheries Development Board

Guidelines for Seaweed Cultivation

1.0 Introduction

Seaweed cultivation, as a diversification activity in mariculture, has tremendous potential

all along the Indian coast. Seaweeds are rich in vitamins and minerals and are consumed
as food in various parts of the world and used for the production of
phytochemicals, viz., agar, carrageenan and alginate, which are widely employed as
gelling, stabilizing and thickening agents in several industries of food, confectionery,
pharmaceutical, dairy, textile, paper, paint, etc.

In India, seaweeds are used as raw materials for the production of agar, alginate and
liquid seaweed fertilizer (LSF). There are about 20 agar industries, 10 algin industries and
a few LSF industries situated at different places in the maritime states of Tamil Nadu,

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Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The red algae Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria
edulis, G. crassa, G. foliifera and G. verrucosa are used for agar manufacture and brown
algae Sargassum spp., Turbinaria spp. and Cystoseira trinodis for the production of
alginates and liquid seaweed fertilizer. The quantity of seaweeds exploited is inadequate
to meet the raw material requirement of Indian seaweed industries.

Seaweeds such as Gracilaria edulis, Hypnea musciformis, Kappaphycus alvarezii,

Enteromorpha flexuosa and Acanthophora spicifera can be successfully cultivated in
long-line ropes and nets by vegetative propagation method. This activity has a potential to
provide income and employment to about 200,000 families.

2.0 Components of Assistance

The NFDB will assist the following components to support Seaweed cultivation:

• Training and demonstration

• Establishment of seaweed processing units

2.1 Training and Demonstration

2.1.1 Eligibility criteria

Following criteria will be applied for selection of agencies for conduct of
training/demonstration programmes:
• Fisheries Institutes/State Fisheries Departments / Fisheries Colleges /
NGOs /SHGs with a background of coastal aquaculture
• Availability of adequate manpower and expertise to conduct frontline
demonstration to traditional fishermen/ women

The following criteria shall be applicable for selection of a farmers/

entrepreneurs (preferably fisher women) to receive training:

• Past experience of the farmer in undertaking seaweed cultivation

• Willingness of the farmer to take up sea weed cultivation on scientific
lines
• Should be willing to upgrade the existing cultivation practices

2.1.2 Type of Assistance

The NFDB assistance would be towards organization of Training and

Demonstration, as detailed below and in Annexure-I and Form-I:

(i) Assistance to farmer: The farmer shall be eligible for a daily allowance
of Rs 125/ day and reimbursement of to and fro travel (train/ bus/ auto
rickshaw) shall be reimbursed as per actuals, subject to a maximum of Rs
500.
(ii) Honorarium to resource persons: For conduct of training, the

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implementing agency may engage the services of one resource person per
training programme. The resource person may be given an honorarium of
up to Rs 1 250 and to and fro travel expenses (train/ bus/ auto rickshaw)
shall be reimbursed as per actuals, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 000.

(iii) Assistance to implementing agencies: The implementing agency shall

be eligible to receive Rs 75/ trainee/ day for a maximum period of 10 days
for organizing the training. This cost shall cover expenses towards
identification and mobilization of the trainee and course material/ training
kits, etc.
(iv) Development of training/ demonstration site(s):
(a) The Government agencies/NGOs/ Other agencies shall be eligible to
receive a one-time grant of a maximum of Rs One lakh only (Rs 1,00,000)
for development of demonstration site for undertaking training /
demonstration programmes on a regular basis. The Government
agencies/NGOs/ Other agencies shall not be eligible for any subsequent
grant for the same training site for the same purpose from NFDB or from
any other funding agency for a period of five (5) years.
(b) In case the Government agencies/NGOs/ Other agencies does not
posses its own facility which can be used for training/ demonstration, it
would be eligible to develop the facility by taking a private agencies on
lease for undertaking training/ demonstration and for the purpose a one-
time grant of Rs Fifty thousand only (Rs 50 000) shall be available for
making payment towards lease amount and development of the facility for
imparting training/ demonstration. The lease shall be for a minimum
period of five (5) years.
(c) In the absence of (a) and (b) above, the Government agencies/NGOs/
Other agencies may engage the facililties of a private firm for which an
amount to Rs 5 000 per training programme shall be made available as fee
for hiring the facility.
Besides the above, the Government agencies/NGOs/ Other agencies shall
also abide by the following conditions:

• The facilities developed by the Government agencies/NGOs/ Other

agencies shall also be available to other implementing agencies for
training of fish farmers under the NFDB programme.
• The training/ demonstration facilities developed by the implementing
agency shall not be more than 25 km from the training site. However,
if such a facility cannot be developed within 25 km, full justification
shall be provided.
• The NFDB shall not fund any other training/ demonstration site over
and above the one developed to ensure its optimal utilization.
• Each training batch shall consist of 25 trainees and in no case exceed
30 trainees per batch.
• All State/ Union Territory Governments shall be assisted with the

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setting up of a maximum of fifteen (15) training/ demonstration sites
initially. Additional sites shall only be sanctioned depending upon the
performance and optimal utilization of the site(s) already sanctioned.
Establishment of additional sites would also be linked to the number of
farmers trained, area covered and institutional finance availed by the
trained farmers for taking up aquaculture activities.
• All other implementing agencies including Fisheries Institutes under
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Colleges of
Fisheries under the State Agricultural University shall avail their own
facilities for which a lump sum of Rs Five thousand only (Rs 5 000)
per training programme shall be provided. However, if such agencies
do not have their own facility, they shall make use of the facility
developed by the State Government or engage the facility of a private
farmer, for which Rs Five thousand only (Rs 5 000) per training
programme shall be provided.
• The implementing agency shall maintain the profile of each trainee and
provide information on the area farmed by each trained farmer,
investments made, employment generated and increase in production
and productivity. The consolidated information on the above shall be
made available to NFDB at quarterly intervals for a period of five
years.
• The implementing agency shall also be responsible for facilitating
institutional finance to the fish farmers.
 • The implementing agency and the NFDB shall enter into an MOU
prior to release of funds for training and demonstration. The
conditions stipulated in the Guidelines shall inter alia be a part of the
MOU.

2.2 Establishment of seaweed processing plants

In view of specialized nature of the processing of seaweeds for specific high value
produce like carragenan, specific proposals will be considered, with the NFDB
assistance in the form of equity to the tune of 20% of the investment costs.

3.0 Submission of Proposals

All proposals received from the beneficiaries shall be submitted to the NFDB for
approval and release of funds. To ensure uniformity in the details provided by the farmers
and the implementing Agencies, application shall be submitted in the following forms:
Form- SWC - I : Training and demonstration.
Form- SWC - II : Establishment of seaweed processing plants
The application form for training and demonstration shall be filled up by the
Implementing Agency and submitted to the NFDB for consideration of release of funds.

4.0 Release of funds

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The subsidy for Training and Demonstration shall be released in a single installment, on
approval of the proposal by the NFDB.

5.0 Submission of Utilization Certificate

The Implementing Agencies shall submit utilization certificates in respect of the funds
released to them by the Board. Such certificates shall be submitted in Form SWC- III on
half-yearly basis i.e. during July and January of each year. The utilization certificates can
also be submitted in between if activities for which funds were released earlier have been
completed and the next dose of subsidy is required to complete the remaining works by
the farmer.

6.0 Monitoring and Evaluation

A dedicated monitoring and evaluation (M&E) cell shall be set up at NFDB head quarters
to periodically monitor and evaluate the progress of activities implemented under NFDB
funding. A project monitoring committee comprising of experts in the subject matter as
well as finance and representative of financing organizations may be constituted to
periodically review the progress of the activities including the achievements related to
physical, financial and production targets.
 Annexure-I

Summary of the Norms for Assistance towards Seaweed cultivation

Sl.
Item Activities Unit Cost Subsidy Remarks
No
1.0 Training and (i) Assistance to farmers (i) Daily allowance of Rs 125/ day
Demonstration for participation in /trainee and reimbursement of
10 days training actual to and fro travel, subject
programme (batch of to a maximum of Rs 500 per
25 – 30). trainee.
(ii) Honorarium of Rs 1250 and
(ii) Honorarium to actual to and fro travel
Resource expenses, subject to a maximum
Persons. of Rs 1000.
(iii) Assistance to (iii) Rs 75/ trainee/ day to the
implementing agency Implementing Agency towards
for training and identification, mobilization of
demonstration. beneficiaries, supply of training
material, etc.
(iv) Development of demonstration
unit @ Rs 1 00 000/- (one time
grant) to the Implementing
Agency to conduct regular

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training/ demonstration
activities.
In absence of own facility, grant
of Rs 50 000/- shall be available
to the State Government to
lease private unit and its
development for conduct of
training/ demonstration, etc.
(vi) In the absence of (iv) and (v)
above, Rs 5 000/- per training
program for hiring suitable
facility from private farmer.
(vii) ICAR Fisheries Institutes/
Colleges of Fisheries under
State Agriculture Universities/
Other Agencies using their own
facilities will get a lump sum
amount of Rs 5,000/- per
training programme for this
purpose.
 FORM – SWC-I

Proposal for Training and Demonstration in seaweed farming

Sl. Particulars sought from the Implementing Agency Information furnished by the
No Implementing Agency
(1) (2) (3)
1.0 Name and address of the Implementing Agency:
2.0 Location of the Training Facility: District Block Village

3.0 Facilities available or proposed for imparting training:

4.0 Details of the Training Programme:

a) Number of persons to be trained in seaweed
farming (to be given separately):
b) Of which ,the number of existing seaweed farmers:
c) Details of demo farms proposed, number of
frames, area, depth, location etc
d) Species to be farmed
e) marketing tie-ups
f) Indicative economics
5.0 Financial Implications:
Item Number Amount
a) Training
(i) Assistance to farmer @ Rs 125/ day for 10 days:

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(ii) Reimbursement of to and fro travel expenses to
farmer:
(iv) Honorarium to resource persons and
reimbursement of to and fro travel expenses:
(iii) Assistance to implementing agency @ Rs 75/
trainee/ day:
Total of (a)
b) Demonstration Unit
Grand Total (a + b)
10.0 Technical capabilities of resource persons to be engaged
in training:

11.0 Any other details in support of the proposal

Date:
Place: Signature and seal of the authorized
representative of the Implementing Agency
 FORM – SWC-II
Proposal for establishing Sea weed Processing Plants

Sl. Particulars sought from the applicant Information furnished by

No the applicant
(1) (2) (3)
1.0 Name and address of the applicant/ firm/
institutes/ departments/ cooperatives/Self Help
Group/NGO (IN BLOCK LETTERS):

2.0 Address for communication (telephone/ mobile

number):

3.0 Details of land where processing activity is

proposed to be taken up:

a) State:
b) District:
c) Taluk/ Mandal:
d) Revenue Village:
e) Survey Number(s):
f) Ownership (whether freehold or on lease):
g) If on lease, duration of lease:
h) Total land area (in ha):
i) Total built up area (in ha):
4.0 j)
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Details of the proposed activity (Design
details/engineering works to be certified by
the Department of Fisheries/ CIFT/ IFP/
Develop-mental Institutes under central
and state governments):

5.0
Estimates regarding input costs:

a) Products to be developed and species to be

processed:
b) Processing capacity:
c) Recurring Cost
Raw material
Sub material
Packing material
Utilities
d) Source of procurement:
(1) (2) (3)
6.0 Experience of the applicant/Agency in the field
and details of training undergone so far:

7.0 Whether any financial tie up has been made for

availing Bank loan, if so please provide the
details:

8.0 Expected date of operation of the processing

activity:

9.0 Marketing tie up:

10.0 Source and number of labour employed for

renovation as well as day-today culture
operations:

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 Declaration by the Applicant

I/We ………………………………….............……….............................…….. son/daughter/wife

of ………………………………...……............………….............................…………… Residing
at ..……………………………………………………………………… hereby declare that the
information furnished above is true to the best of my/ our knowledge and belief. I am/ we are
fully aware that if it is found that the information furnished by me/ we/ us is false or there is any
kind of deviation/ violation of the conditions under which assistance is provided to me by the
NFDB, any action as deemed fit for violation of this condition may be taken against me/ us.

Date:
Place:
Signature of the applicant (s)

Countersigned by the implementing Agency

Date:
Place:
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representative of the Implementing Agency
 FORM – SWC-III

National Fisheries Development Board

Form for Submission of Utilization Certificate

Sl. No Letter No and date Amount Certified that out of Rs. ___________
sanctioned during the year_________ in
favour of _______ under the National
Fisheries Development Board’s Letter No
given in the margin and Rs. _____________
on account of unspent balance of the previous
sanction, a sum of Rs. ___________ has been
utilized for the purpose of____________ for
which it was sanctioned and that the balance
of Rs. ___________ remains unutilized. The
same will be adjusted towards the next
installment payable during the
period________.

Physical progress:
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Certified that I have satisfied myself that the conditions on which the funds were sanctioned by
the National Fisheries Development Board have been duly fulfilled/ are being fulfilled and that I
have exercised the following checks to see that the money was actually utilized for the purpose
for which it was sanctioned.

Date:

Place: Signature and seal of the authorized

representative of the Implementing
Agency