Vasalathippa & Chirrayanam Villages, Konaseema District, November 3–4, 2025:  As part of scaling the “Blue is the New Pink” initiative, the AMMACHI Labs team conducted a two-day field engagement in Vasalathippa and Chirrayanam villages of Konaseema District, introducing seaweed cultivation and value-added livelihood opportunities to more than 200 participants, including women from local Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

The sessions were supported by Dr. V. V. Rao, Parameshwar Viyyuri, and officials from the Department of Fisheries and the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). Training focused on safety measures, profitability, and community ownership, equipping participants with knowledge to begin seaweed farming. Several women also shared their own successful experiments with Gracilaria salicornia, further inspiring the group and reinforcing the potential of seaweed-based livelihoods.

Government representatives — including Jayachandra Gandhi (Project Director, DRDA) and Dr. Mahesh Kumar Ravirala, IAS (District Collector, Konaseema) — expressed strong interest in formalizing a state-level MoU with Amrita University to expand Blue Economy initiatives across coastal Andhra Pradesh.

This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 4: Quality Education

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The project is implemented by Amrita University with support from ESRI India and the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), contributing to sustainable coastal development and women’s economic empowerment in Andhra Pradesh.