Is spirulina farming realistic for a small farmer and what does it actually take?

Be cautious, spirulina is more technical and market-dependent than the promotions suggest. Spirulina is a microalga grown in shallow ponds or tanks of alkaline, nutrient-rich water under good sunlight and warm temperature, with regular stirring or agitation, careful pH and water-quality control, and clean harvesting through fine filter cloth followed by drying and packaging as powder or tablets. It needs clean water, food-grade handling, consistent management and protection from contamination, and the product must meet FSSAI food-safety rules if sold for human use. The real challenge is the market: spirulina sells into health-supplement channels that need quality, branding and trusted buyers, so without a buyer or your own selling setup the high price is theoretical. Get proper training and start very small. Verify the technical protocol, water quality and any buyer through your KVK, a fisheries or biotech institute or established producers before investing.