<h1>State government scales freshwater pearl farming from pilot to major livelihood opportunity with training programs</h1> A state government is developing freshwater pearl farming as a major livelihood opportunity through comprehensive training programs and infrastructure development. The initiative began as a pilot project and evolved into a structured ecosystem with specialized training centers teaching farmers pearl cultivation techniques. A training facility has trained over 130 farmers in advanced culture methods, with these farmers cascading knowledge to others. The economics are compelling - mussels costing 35-50 rupees to nurture for three years produce pearls selling for up to 1,000 rupees, yielding ten times return on investment. One entrepreneur scaled from 5,000 to 170,000 mussels, expecting significant profits. The government designated the first pearl farming cluster with substantial investment and established supply chains with major retailers, positioning the state as a production and training hub.