A DECADE ago,as Narendra Kumar Girwa scrolled through YouTube insearch of videos on terrace farming, an in advertenttypo directed himto the intriguing world of pearl farming.This chance encounter piqued his curiosity. Despite Rajasthan’s climate and agricultural traditions focused on wheat, bajra (pearl millet), and jau (barley), Narendra saw potential in cultivatingpearls,whichhadarobust demand and lucrative market rates in India. Before this unexpected turn, Narendra’s life was steeped in uncertainty. Raised in a middle-income family with five siblings in KishangarhRenwalof Jaipurdistrict, he had no land or agricultural background. After graduating, he opened a bookstore near schools and colleges - a prime locationforhis stationery business. For eight years, business was good until his landlord asked him to vacate the shop.

 

“I was running the bookstore for eight years inthe same location. All of a sudden, my landlord asked me to vacate the premises. He wanted to make way for his sonto establisha business in thesamespot.So, Ihadtovacate the shop. Itook another shopon rent,abouthalfa kilometre from theoldlocation,butI wasn’t getting good customers there,” Narendra tells. Forced into a less advantageous location, he struggled to attractcustomers,leadingtosignificant financial losses - amounting to Rs 4–5 lakh. The businessdrainedhissavings,and despitehiswife’ssupportthrough her earnings from stitching clothes, their financial health deteriorated rapidly. Disheartened, Narendra found himself at a crossroads.

 

Transforming setbacks into stepping stones Whilebrowsingonlinefornew opportunities,hisaccidentaldiscovery of pearl farming videos signalleda possible escape from his financialtroubles. Intrigued, hebeganresearchingthisunconventionalfarmingpracticethoroughly. Although the idea seemedoutlandishinRajasthan’s dry climate, many mocked his interest, including his own family. An invaluable resource inhis quest was the Central Institute ofFreshwaterAquaculture(CIFA) inOdisha.Here,Narendrafound the training he needed to pursue his new passion. Forafee of Rs6,000,helearnedthenuances of pearl farming over a five-day course and gained insights into the delicate process of developing pearls within mussels. Equippedwithnewknowledge and determination, Narendra ventured into the world of pearl farming in 2015. He purchased 500 mussels from Kerala and started freshwater pearl cultivation in this village. His initial attempts were fraught with challenges, as Rajasthan’s climate posed significant obstacles, and a lack of local expertise left him tonavigate largely alone.Within two weeks, his mussels started dying,onebyone.

 

Outofhis first batch of 500 mussels, only 35 survived due to unforeseen issues with ammonia levels. “I had failed miserably,” he says with a sigh. But Narendra was undeterred by failure. He recalibrated his strategy,investingtimeinunderstanding pearl farming better. Overcoming losses of Rs 50,000, he refined his methods to improve survivalrates and masteredthe art of maintainingprecise pond conditions. After six months, he procured another 500 mussels. Through persistent experimentation and adaptation,within18months,his efforts started yielding promising results. His button-shaped pearls possessed a unique lustre that captivated the market. Selling these pearls at Rs 300 each,hissecondbatchproduced a harvest of 700 pearls, earning him a lucrative income of Rs 2 lakh. The success validated his risky venture and opened doors to new possibilities, solidifying his standing as a pioneering figure in Rajasthan’s nascent pearl farming industry.

 

Narendra’s own venture, now sprawling across 300 square feet with 3000 mussels, serves as a shining example of success. Generating5000pearlspercycle, he profits upwards of Rs 10 to Rs 15lakhover18months.Hispearls are sold through Amazon and retail markets, while his foray intopearl-basedjewelleryfurther diversifies his income. Buildingapearl farming community As word spread of Narendra’s success, so did opportunities to educate and inspire others. Recognisingachancetohelpfellow farmers, he began offering training sessions. As of now, he has trained over 200 individuals from neighbouring states - Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and UttarPradesh.ChargingRs4,000 for two-day workshops, he provided comprehensive training andcontinuoussupportandfostered a nascent community of pearl farmers. Jodhpur’s Aditya Kachawa underwent training with Narendra last February. Reflecting on his experience, he shares, “The training provided detailedexplanationsinanexcellentmanner.Thebestpartisthat Narendra ji is incredibly helpful and always available to answer questions through any mode of communication.”

 

He continues, “I manage several farming projects, including a nursery and mushroom cultivation, and had some unused land.I wanted to make the most ofit,soIcurrentlyhave1,000pearl mussels in my cemented pond. Evenafterthetraining,Narendra offered ongoing support to help meestablishmypearlbusiness.” Despite invitations to share his expertise globally - from Dubai to Bhutan and London - Narendrastayedfocusedonlocal impact,evenassistingpearlpond setups abroad, suchas inNepal. Secrets to freshwater pearl farming For those inspired by Narendra’sjourney,headvocates astep-by-stepapproachtopearl farming. 1. Source good quality mussels from renowned vendors. About 10 percent of losses are estimatedduringtransportation.

 

To keep mussels healthy during transportation, make sure that you keepthemina wetjutesack. As it takes two to three days for transportation, sprinkle water on the cover when it starts drying up. 2.Farmerscanstartbyfirstsetting up a 10×15-foot pond. This area is suitable to hold 1,000 mussels.Eventhoselackinglarge land plots can succeed by setting up smaller ponds on the terraces of their homes. 3.Narendra emphasises maintaining zero ammonia levels.This can be achieved by deploying motors of water coolers that rotate waterin pond. Use motor for two to three hours daily. 4. Understanding Rajasthan’s uniqueclimate,Narendradigshis ponds five feet deep to regulate temperature, ensuring mussels thrive, eveninthe summerheat.

 

He advises maintaining a temperature between 10 and 30 degrees. By leveraging green shades, he maintains critical temperature stability, facilitating productive harvests from October to March. 5. Under optimal conditions, witha70percentmusselsurvival rate, farmers can earn up to Rs 4 lakh from 1,400 pearls. Narendra also advises turning shellwasteintohandicraftitems to earn an extra income.