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PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
Hazaribag in Jharkhand has been notified as India’s first pearl farming cluster under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The development is for freshwater pearl culture and Blue Economy 2.0.
Hazaribag Pearl Farming Cluster:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Notifying Authority | The Department of Fisheries has notified the Hazaribag pearl farming cluster. |
| Significance | The cluster marks a shift in freshwater pearl culture from pilot projects to a structured commercial-scale ecosystem. |
| Blue Economy Linkage | The Hazaribag pearl cluster is part of the Blue Economy 2.0 initiative. |
| Uniqueness | The cluster is located in the landlocked state of Jharkhand, unlike the traditional association of pearls with coastal areas. |
| Investment | The Central Government and the State of Jharkhand have jointly developed the cluster with an investment of ₹22 crore. |
| Production Capacity | The district has recorded production of over 1.02 lakh pearls as of early 2026. |
| Primary Species | Freshwater mussels are used for pearl farming. |
| Brood Bank Proposal | A brood bank has been proposed for Hyriopsis cumingii, a high-quality Vietnamese freshwater mussel species. |
| Hyriopsis Cumingii | Hyriopsis cumingii is a freshwater mussel species known for producing high-quality pearls and is also called the Triangle Sail Mussel. |
| Pearl Farming Process | Pearl farming involves surgical transplantation into mussels followed by a maturation period in which the mussel secretes nacre over a nucleus. |
| Infrastructure Assessment | NABCONS is conducting a gap analysis for infrastructure. |
| Technical Support | NIFPHATT and NFDB provide technical support for value addition and market linkage. |
| Skill Development | Purty Agrotech Training Centre and St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi provide skill development support through training and certificate courses. |
| Trained Growers | Around 800 trained pearl growers are active across Jharkhand. |
| Livelihood Role | Pearl farming provides an alternative income source for inland farmers by using existing water bodies such as ponds and tanks. |
| PMMSY | Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is a flagship scheme launched in 2020 and implemented by the Department of Fisheries. |
| PMMSY Aim | PMMSY provides for fisheries infrastructure modernisation, enhanced fish production, higher fishermen’s income, sustainable use of aquatic resources, and Blue Revolution in fisheries and aquaculture. |
| NFDB | National Fisheries Development Board is a statutory body established in 2006 under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. |
| NIFPHATT | NIFPHATT provides for processing and value addition of fish products in India. |
| Pearl Composition | Pearls have a crystalline structure and contain 80–92% calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite, along with calcite and a small amount of water. |