At the ongoing ‘Advanced Agriculture Festival’ in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, a unique initiative highlighting pearl farming has captured attention. This new approach offers farmers a lucrative alternative to traditional farming methods. The event featured a demonstration emphasizing the benefits of pearl farming as a profitable source of income.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised the inaugural event. The Department of Fisheries conducted a comprehensive training session on pearl production, guiding farmers through the entire process. Experts noted that pearl farming, requiring minimal water resources, can yield significantly higher profits compared to conventional farming practices.
In addition to pearl farming, the fair introduced modern techniques like Biofloc, RAS, and Aquaponics, providing new opportunities for water-based employment. Farmers showed keen interest in learning about pearl farming and sought advice from experts at the stalls. Budhan Singh Purti, an experienced pearl farmer, shared insights, highlighting how even unemployed individuals can start pearl farming from home.
Purti explained that the cost of cultivating a single pearl-bearing oyster is around ₹50, while a finished pearl can fetch up to ₹600 in the market. He emphasized that he transitioned from a job to pearl farming and now employs 300 people, enjoying substantial profits. The fair is seen as a significant initiative to boost farmers’ incomes and promote rural self-reliance by blending traditional agriculture with modern technologies.
A female entrepreneur expressed interest in pearl farming, considering her current engagement in fish farming. She plans to venture into pearl farming in the same pond where she conducts fish farming. The Central Government supports pearl farming through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under the ‘Blue Revolution’ scheme, aiming to enhance rural youth and farmers’ incomes.
Under PMMSY, the government provides up to a 50 percent subsidy on the project cost of pearl farming, with states like Uttar Pradesh offering a maximum subsidy of ₹5 lakh for the project.
