Sambai Village, April 12, 2025 — In a significant step forward for women-led marine innovation, members of the Ocean Farming project at AMMACHI Labs visited Sambai Village to provide vital equipment and support to the women participating in the Seaweed Cultivation initiative.

During the visit, the team distributed bamboo poles, diving goggles, and anchors, essential tools to facilitate the next phase of the project. The women farmers, undeterred by the challenges of ocean farming, shared their excitement and detailed plans to begin indigenous seaweed trials in the coming week. The focus of these trials will be on cultivating native species such as Gelidiella and Sargassum using rope-based farming methods.

“These trials are an important step toward identifying the native seaweed species best suited for sustainable cultivation in this region,” said a spokesperson from AMMACHI Labs. “We are proud to stand alongside these women as they lead with innovation and resilience in the blue economy space.”

The initiative is part of “Blue is the New Pink”, a broader campaign by AMMACHI Labs under Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, aimed at empowering women through ocean-based livelihoods. The project is supported by Transworld Group and Esri India, whose contributions have made the ongoing efforts in Sambai Village possible.

With the successful implementation of these indigenous trials, the women of Sambai Village are poised to become regional pioneers in sustainable seaweed farming, advancing both environmental stewardship and economic empowerment in their coastal community.