Creating a lustrous path

Vinod Kumar Yadav talks to Musba Hashmi about all there is to know on how to culture pearls away from the sea coast

To begin with, one needs to dig a tank of 10X10 feet with a depth of six feet. The total investment that is needed to make two tanks is Rs 70,000. They are built using construction machines.

Yadav, who has been cultivating pearls for the last two years, now has two tanks of 24X20 and 20X10 feet each with a depth of six feet. The length of the plastic that has gone into his tanks are 36X24 and 14X36 feet respectively.

He tells you that the seashells are first kept in a small tank so that they can adjust to the water parameters. Then a nucleus is embedded inside the seashell which acts as a base for the pearl to develop.

The nucleus for the pearl is made from calcium powder that dentists use to make teeth caps. This powder, after mixing with a liquid, again the one that dentists use, is placed in the desired mould like that of Om or Cross and Lord Ganesh. The mixture is made to sit in the mould for five to seven minutes. The mixture dries and hardens and takes the shape of the mould. These nucleus are then sterilised with Dettol before finally placed inside the shell.

The secretion inside the shell makes for the pearl layer on the nucleus. A special procedure is used with a pointed tool to put the nucleus inside the shell. They are then left in the tank mixed with antibiotics in the water. This helps increase the sustainability of the shells. Then the seashells are transferred to the mother pond, which means a larger tank where they are left for a period of 12-14 months during which the pearl grows inside the shell.

Pearls can’t be cultured without placing the nucleus in them. If you want pearl production then a nucleus have to be planted in the shell otherwise there will be no base for the secretions to stick on and develop into a pearl. In case of natural pearl production there has to be a particle of sand or anything in the sea to enter the shell as well. It then develops into a pearl when the secretion of the shells deposits on it.

“We usually take the pearl out after this time but as long as the pearl remains inside the shell, it continues to grow. During this period, on an average 30-35 seashells die due to certain conditions. The colourful pearls cost more and depends on the shell used. However, till now, I have only seen white pearls,” Yadav says, who also cultivates round pearls.

Since they are living species, their food is also prepared. Seashells feed on algae and it can be easily developed using cow dung, diammonium phosphate and urea. “All three are mixed together and left in sunlight for 10 days. This results in the growth of algae in the mixture, it is then strained using a cloth and poured in the pond,” Yadav explains.