Himalaya Harbinger, Uttarakhand Bureau.
In a first of its kind in Uttarakhand, the Udham Singh Nagar district has ventured into designer pearl production, with farmer Balveer Singh Khati cultivating pearls in a pond on one bigha of land in Kalinagar village of Gadarpur block in the district, under the supervision of the District Fisheries Department. These pearls, created using oysters, will be sold to a Varanasi-based firm for polishing and distribution to southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
According to officials, this is the first instance of pearl farming in the state. Balveer Singh Khati, with financial and technical assistance from the Fisheries Department, invested Rs 8 lakh to set up the pond and stock it with 10,000 oysters. “This project is an innovative step toward diversifying livelihoods in the hilly state,” said Sanjay Chhimwal, Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department, Udham Singh Nagar.
The production process involves embedding designs like Sai Baba, Lord Ganesha, Om, the Christian cross, and the Swastika symbol into the oysters. These oysters, feeding on water algae grown using cow dung, remain in the pond for 18 months until the pearls are fully formed. Two to four pearls can be produced from a single oyster, with an expected yield of 20,000 designer pearls.
Khati has already harvested 5,000 pearls and sold them to the Varanasi firm, which polishes and markets them. “We are optimistic about the returns,” said Chhimwal. “The pearls are valued at Rs 100 each, generating potential revenue of Rs 20 lakh from this batch. After deducting costs, the farmer can earn a net profit of Rs 12 lakh.”
To ensure proper care, the project employs three surgery experts who monitor the oysters during the initial four months. The Fisheries Department also plans to organize training programs at Khati’s farm to encourage other fish farmers to adopt pearl farming. “We aim to provide basic training to local fish farmers so they can explore this lucrative opportunity. A proposal for government financial support will also be sent,” Chhimwal added.
“Pearl farming is a novel method for increasing income in rural areas. The nucleus inserted into each oyster stimulates the formation of a calcium carbonate layer, which develops into a pearl over 18 months. This innovative venture will set a precedent for innovation in agriculture but also opens new avenues for economic growth in the region”, Chhimwal further said.
