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Helping the planet with seaweed - 10th December 2021

These women live in the south of India. They are seaweed farmers. Seaweed is good for the Earth. It takes in lots of carbon dioxide from the environment.

The government knows seaweed is important. It helps the environment and gives work to local people. They make money after four months’ work.

Mutha Muthuvel: "The profit in other jobs is not as much. With seaweed farming, for three months there isn't any returns. But after putting in the hard work, in the fourth month, we collect all the seaweed and we get a lot of profit and we're happy."

Now, this local community grows lots of seaweed. These farmers look after the environment too. They don't pick the seaweed every month. They know it is a home for fish too.

For some women, the work pays for their children's education.

Lakshmi Murgesan: "Earlier, I used to think I wouldn't be able to educate my children. But after doing this seaweed business, I’ve been able to send my children to college."

People use seaweed in medicine and food. Scientists think seaweed is special. It doesn't use land or fresh water.

It takes in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen. This is important for India. The country makes lots of carbon dioxide.

Now, the government wants people to grow seaweed. It's paying people to start seaweed farms.

But this isn't easy work. It can be dangerous for the farmers.

Lakshmi Murgesan: "When we go and collect the seaweed, the seabed is quite rocky. And when we walk, we sometimes slip and fall. So we have to be a bit careful. And then there are fish that can bite, that is also one of the dangers."