Patna, July 8 (APAC Media): The Bihar Government has launched pearl farming alongside fish farming to boost farmers’ income.
Under the Fish Species Diversification Scheme 2026-27, the state will also promote freshwater prawn cultivation to diversify aquaculture.
The initiative has been launched by the Department of Animal and Fisheries Resources to create new income opportunities for fish farmers across Bihar.
The scheme encourages farmers to produce multiple aquatic products, helping increase income while reducing dependence on a single source of livelihood.
Officials said integrated fish and pearl farming will improve earnings and promote sustainable aquaculture.
The government plans to set up 100 pearl farming units across 50 acres of water bodies during the current financial year.
The project is expected to produce around 1.2 lakh cultured pearls.
Farmers will be selected through an online application process, which will be launched soon by the Fisheries Department.
The Bihar Government will provide a 60% subsidy to eligible farmers to promote pearl farming.
The financial support aims to reduce initial investment costs and encourage fish farmers to adopt high-value aquaculture.
The demand for cultured pearls has been steadily increasing in both domestic and international markets.
India continues to import large quantities of cultured pearls every year to meet domestic demand, creating significant opportunities for local production.
Experts say Bihar has favourable conditions for freshwater pearl farming.
Compared to marine pearl farming, freshwater pearl farming offers several advantages, including:
- Availability of abundant freshwater ponds and water bodies
- Lower production costs
- Fewer predators affecting pearl oysters
- Easier management and maintenance
- Higher scope for expansion in inland regions
These factors make freshwater pearl farming a cost-effective and sustainable aquaculture activity.
The technology for freshwater pearl farming has been developed by the ICAR–Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar.
The government said these scientific techniques will help Bihar farmers adopt pearl farming efficiently and improve both productivity and pearl quality.
Freshwater pearl farming has already been adopted in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, and India.
The Bihar Government aims to use similar techniques to build a sustainable freshwater pearl farming ecosystem and boost local pearl production.
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