Spirulina, an algae usually associated with the sea, is being grown in a backyard. An entrepreneur in Rajshahi is producing it in tanks and speaks of the great potential of this nutritious farm product.

Seaweeds come from coastal shores and are nutritious farm products in many countries. In China, various seaweeds are essential foods, and farming goes hand in hand with wide-ranging research. Farming and research are also under way in Bangladesh, and spirulina is no longer limited to traditional coastal systems: it is now grown in courtyards, in tanks. Rakibul Islam of Rajshahi is behind this venture.

Over the past year, Rakibul has taken spirulina production to a promising stage. In Fulbari, Kurigram, seven young people have also succeeded in growing nutritious spirulina.

The entrepreneurs speak of success, but many believe timely research is needed on how practical and sustainable it is to farm algae on land, as fish are farmed.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.