Hazaribag in Jharkhand became India’s first notified pearl farming cluster under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The ₹22 crore project supports scientific freshwater pearl cultivation, training, processing, and market linkage for rural employment generation. Best Book for Current Affairs & General Knowledge Preparation
The Department of Fisheries officially notified Hazaribag as a pearl cluster on 30 August 2024. The initiative began as a pilot project during 2019-20 before expanding into a commercial aquaculture ecosystem.
Pearl farming in Hazaribag mainly uses freshwater mussels, especially Hyriopsis cumingii, a Vietnamese species known for producing high-quality pearls. Farmers implant nuclei surgically inside mussels to stimulate nacre deposition.
The National Fisheries Development Board recorded production of more than 1.02 lakh pearls from Hazaribag district by early 2026. Jharkhand has also trained over 800 pearl growers across different districts.
The Purty Agrotech Training Centre in Ranchi, established in 2024 through CSR funding, trained more than 132 farmers in advanced pearl culture techniques. Women self-help groups are receiving special entrepreneurship support.
NABCONS is conducting infrastructure gap analysis for cluster expansion. Technical support for value addition and fisheries marketing is being provided by NIFPHATT and NFDB under PMMSY.
PMMSY was launched on 10 September 2020 by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The scheme focuses on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture modernisation, Blue Economy expansion, and fishermen income enhancement.
Freshwater pearl farming is considered cheaper and more sustainable than marine pearl cultivation because it uses ponds, reservoirs, and inland water bodies. The Hazaribag model may become a template for other landlocked states.
Expected Current Affairs Questions for UPSC CDS NDA and AFCAT 2 2026 Written Exam
Q1. Hazaribag, recently seen in news, became India’s first:
A. Inland Fisheries Export Zone
B. Pearl Farming Cluster
C. Blue Economy Corridor
D. Marine Aquaculture Park
Answer: B. Pearl Farming Cluster
Explanation: Hazaribag in Jharkhand was officially notified as India’s first pearl farming cluster under PMMSY.
Q2. Which scheme is associated with the development of India’s first pearl farming cluster?
A. PM-KUSUM
B. PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
C. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
D. PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises
Answer: B. PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
Explanation: PMMSY supports fisheries infrastructure, aquaculture expansion, and pearl farming development.
Q3. Hyriopsis cumingii, recently mentioned in current affairs, is a:
A. Coral species
B. Marine algae
C. Freshwater mussel
D. Ornamental fish
Answer: C. Freshwater mussel
Explanation: Hyriopsis cumingii is a freshwater mussel species used for high-quality pearl cultivation.
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