MADURAI: Entrepreneurship training in seaweed farming and trade in the Gulf of Mannar in Ramanathapuram district being organized by the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) at Pudumadam from August 2nd to 4th 2023 is giving positive results.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Studies of School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources of MKU has taken this initiative for three-days entrepreneurship training on seaweed farming and trade in the Gulf of Mannar through RUSA entrepreneurship training programme, according to a press release received from the university here yesterday.
“Seaweed is a marine macro algae that had valuable marine resources and offers a wide range of economic, environmental and social benefits in the Gulf of Mannar. Seaweed farming increases employment opportunities for coastal community people and hence seaweed enhances socio-economic conditions. Our focus was on fishermen community, unemployed youth, potential entrepreneurs and students from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu,” the press release from MKU has said.
Dr.M.Anand, organizer, RUSA Entrepreneurship Training Programme and Dr.V.Veeragurunathan, principal scientist and SIC, CSIR-CSMCRI-Marine Algal Research Station in Mandapam Camp in Ramanathapuram had highlighted the need for seaweed cultivation due to increasing demand for raw materials to industries.
Prof.S.Kannan, Chairperson, School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, MKU, had delivered the presidential address by highlighting the entrepreneurship opportunity and trade potential available for seaweed cultivation in the Gulf of Mannar.
Dr.J.Jerald Wilson, teaching resource person, Mr.Manoharan from Aquagri Pvt Ltd-seaweed cultivation partner and others were present to give handson training. Seaweed training manual in Tamil and English was released at the inauguration programme which was funded by the MKU here, the press release here said.
