UPSC Articles
Pearl Farming in Tribal Areas
Part of: Prelims and GS III – Conservation
Context Recently, the TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) inked an agreement with the Jharkhand-based Purty Agrotech for the promotion of pearl farming in tribal areas.
About the agreement
- As part of the agreement, Purty Agrotech pearls will be sold through 141 Tribes India outlets, apart from various e-commerce platforms.
- Purty Agrotech’s centre will be developed into a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Cluster (VDVKC). Besides, there is a plan to develop 25 such VDVKCs for pearl farming in Jharkhand.
- The breeding of oysters and development of pearls is a sustainable mode of business and can be easily practised by tribals who have access to nearby water bodies.
- It will prove to be game-changers for tribal livelihoods in the times to come.
About Pearl Farming
- Pearls are the only gemstones in the world that come from a living creature.
- Mollusks such as oysters and mussels produce these precious jewels
- Pearl oysters are farmed in a number of countries in the world in the production of cultured pearls.
- Freshwater pearls are pearls that are grown on pearl farms using freshwater mussels.
- Since mussels are the organic hosts, the pearls can grow up to 10 times bigger than those made by saltwater oysters, naturally.
About The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)
- Established in 1987, under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, this statutory body works for the social and economic development of the tribal people of the country
- Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- It has been registered as a National Level Cooperative body by the Government of the country.
- It helps tribal people manufacture products for national and international markets on a sustainable basis and also supports the formation of Self-Help Groups and imparting training to them.
