Gujarat farmer develops 48-carat pearl

Navsari (Gujarat), Apr 22 (ANI): A pearl farmer has developed a 48-carat pink pearl, in Chikhli town of Gujarat's Navsari district.

The pearl-farmer, Bhargav Desai, said that they are planning to auction the pearl at the famous auctioneers Sotheby's or Christie's, and are awaiting clearance from the Gem and Pearl Testing Laboratory in Bahrain.

The pearl is expected to fetch a price between Rs 30 million and 100 million.

Desai has been producing pearls since 2004 at the Bhargav Freshwater Aquaculture Farm in Chikhli town.

He said that pearl farming is much more profitable than any other type of farming.

"This pearl culture gives us more income than normal agriculture. Pearl culture is not that widespread in India. There is very limited production and the demand for pearls is very high in our area...and pearls are being imported from China as well. So, if more pearl farms are developed here, our foreign currency would be saved and our farmers will be economically saved," said Desai.

He added that though pearl farming brings good returns, it is a risky business and that prevents people from taking it up as a profession in India.

Pearls are farmed in fresh water and nuclei of different sizes are implanted in mussels for the production of pearls. The entire process of implantation and harvesting of the pearl takes about two years. (ANI)