In the context of rising input costs and low returns in agriculture, spirulina (Arthro spira platensis), also called as blue green algae seems to promise farmers good income than other regular crops with very little investment.
Protein food
Spirulina is a nutritious protein food supplement and is also used in the manufacture of several medicines, and cosmetics. Its cultivation on a commercial scale is slowly catching up with many farmers in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. With an unseasonal monsoon and problems in marketing many farmers have taken up spirulina cultivation as they have an assured market and a regular income.
Suitable area
"Spirulina grows well in regions having temperature between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. Though it can be grown in cement or plastic tanks of any convenient size, it is preferable if the tank size is about 10 x 5 x 1.5 feet. About 1000 lts of water must be filled in the tank to a height of about one to two feet . About 1 kg of spirulina mother culture should be released into the tank along with 8 g of sodium bi carbonate, 5 g of sodium chloride,0.2 g of urea, 0.5 g of potassium sulphate, 0.16 g of magnesium sulphate, 0.052 ml of phosphoric acid and 0.05 ml of ferrous sulphate (all measurements for one litre of water). The water should be agitated every day for a week using a long stick for half an hour.
Harvest time
After 10 days spirulina is ready for harvest. The algae can be harvested using small plastic buckets and poured into a mounted filter, which drains the excess water. The drained spirulina is then wrapped in clean muslin cloth and pressed under a weight of 50 kg to further drain the moisture. It is then put in small machines (used in noodle manufacturing) and squeezed in the form of noodles on a dry, clean cloth under the sun.It is then allowed to dry for 23 hours after which it is ground in a machine (similar to a flour machine) and the powder is sent to the lab for testing. It is then packed in small airtight plastic covers, and is ready for consumption. About 2 gm of spirulina powder can be mixed in cold water, juice or ice cream and consumed. "At present I am calculating spirulina cultivation in about 15 tanks. In a day we can harvesting about 1 kg of spirulina from each tank. One kg of dry spirulina powder is being sold at Rs. 1,000 in the market.
Gross income
"In a month we are able to earn about Rs, 60,000 as gross income from this spirulina. Even after deducting the expense for maintenance and employment for six persons we are able to realize a net profit of Rs. 30,000/-.
