Prayagraj farmers embracing pearl farming to supplement earning
PRAYAGRAJ : Experts from a Rajasthan- based firm are training and guiding traditional farmers of Prayagraj in the art of pearl farming under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. These experts are also training them in the art of sorting the pearls as per size and quality so that they can get a good price for their produce, said officials of the district soil conservation department.
PRAYAGRAJ: Experts from a Rajasthan- based firm are training and guiding traditional farmers of Prayagraj in the art of pearl farming under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
These experts are also training them in the art of sorting the pearls as per size and quality so that they can get a good price for their produce, said officials of the district soil conservation department.
The initiative is being executed using ponds on farmlands and efforts are also on to involve more and more farmers in this art so as to help them supplement their incomes, they added.
Following the efforts of the district soil conservation department, the villagers of Pratappur and Chaka block of the district are now involved in this unique farming wherein seeds of the pearls are released in the pond and after the gestation period of 18 months, bright-shinny pearls are harvested.
“We have contacted a Rajasthan based firm which not only supplies the seeds, each costing Rs 40, but also passes the technique for the correct maintenance of the seeds including maintaining the TDS (total dissolved solvent) level, sewage and providing needed fodder from time to time. After the completion of the gestation period, the harvest is purchased by the same firm, providing Rs 100 for each pearl,” said district soil conservation officer, Gaurav Prakash.
Around 20 months back, the maiden trial was done at Bhogwara village of Pratappur block of the district where a villager had released 40,000 pearl seeds in the pond and after 18 months, he sold the produce at Rs 27 lakh in December 2020, said Prakash.
Buoyed by the successful trail, the department has trained 150 women volunteers, many of whom are the members of SelfHelp-groups (SHGs), working in trans-Yanuma area of the district where there is scarcity of water.
“After getting the needful training, Vimla Devi of Arail Uprahaar village of Chakka block too has come forward and got involved in ‘pearl culture’.
“Some of the members of the SHG have come forward and are ready to buy the produce (pearl) and manufacture jewellery from the same as this adds to their profit. There is lot of potential as finding a pond measuring 22x20 meters and 3-feet deep is no problem for the farmers,” said Prakash.
The official said that the seeds are released during two periods of the year, either in November-February or in August-October.