Pearl farming
Context
The Government of India, through the Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has been actively promoting natural pearl farming.
- Pearl culture practices are currently carried out in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Goa, and Tripura.
- A noteworthy achievement is the establishment of India’s first pearl farming cluster in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, which showcases the country’s strides in this sector.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
Key Highlights
- Pearl Farming Under PMMSY:
- 2,307 bivalve cultivation units, including pearl farming, have been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- A total of ₹461 lakh has been allocated to various States and Union Territories for this initiative.
- Support to Farmers:
- Pearl farmers are being encouraged to present their work at national and international forums.
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for developing fisheries and aquaculture clusters, including pearl farming clusters, have been shared with States and UTs.
- Hazaribagh Pearl Cluster:
- India’s first pearl farming cluster has been developed in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, in partnership with the State Government.
- This district has produced over 1.02 lakh pearls, as reported by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
- Marine Pearl Oyster Conservation:
- The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has released 1.65 crore hatchery-produced pearl oyster seeds in the Tuticorin area along Tamil Nadu’s coast to boost the natural population.
- Training Initiatives:
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, conducted 15 training programs on freshwater pearl farming, benefiting over 1,500 participants in the past five years.
- CMFRI, Kochi, has trained more than 400 participants in marine pearl farming, offering sessions in regional languages.
- Market Linkages:
- The Department of Fisheries has conducted multiple meetings with State Governments and stakeholders to improve market connectivity for natural pearls.
Pearl Farming:
- Pearls are the only gemstones in the world that come from a living creature.
- Mollusks such as oysters and mussels produce these precious jewels that people have adored since ancient times.
- Pearl oysters are farmed in a number of countries in the world in the production of cultured pearls.
- Freshwater pearls are pearls that are grown on pearl farms using freshwater mussels. Since mussels are the organic hosts, the pearls can grow up to 10 times bigger than those made by saltwater oysters, naturally.
