Contributing to ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ of the Govt of India, a seaweed-based bio-stimulant for various crops named ‘Sivarika’ using an indigenous technology developed by CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, was launched in the market in 2023 by Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO).

KRIBHCO is a premier national level Cooperative Society of India engaged in fertiliser production and distribution and is registered under Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002. CSIR-CSMCRI is a pioneer R&D laboratory in the area of seaweed research in the country.

CSIR-CSMCRI has developedseaweed-based agro-technologies for enhancing the yields and quality of several crops including flowers, spices, vegetables as well as arable crops using seaweed biostimulants.

Dr Kamalesh Prasad, the divisional chair of the Natural Products and Green Chemistry group in CSIR-CSMCRI informed that seaweed-based biofertiliser ‘Sivarika’ modulates the antioxidant system and expression of differential gene expression which could explain better crop growth and yield response upon application of this natural fertilisersap.

Dr Kanti Bhooshan Pandey, Senior Scientist and Public Relation Officer of the institute informed that CSIR-CSMCRI has exhaustive research expertise in seaweed research and has developed animal feed additives, commercial cultivation of seaweeds and generation of energy through microalgal feedstock in addition to the biostimulant. All these findings formed the basis of severalpolicy decisions taken by the Govt of India recently to promote the seaweed sector.This product is cultivated and harvested from the Indian coast and is a source of livelihood for many fishermen families. ‘Sivarika’ is manufactured using patented know-how transferred to M/s Pushpa J Shah-Ankleswar in 2019, he added.