**12. Prospects of freshwater pearl culture in India**

Farmers in developing countries like India have a limited grasp of modern aqua farming procedures, including pearl farming, which should be followed in their respective fields. Through research, teaching, and training, many people are working hard to transfer this critical technology of pearl farming to the needy. Many farmers, entrepreneurs, and women who are interested in this subject have already *Recent Trends in Freshwater Pearl Farming in India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99281*

received training in recent years. Freshwater pearl farms have been developed in various states across the country, including Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and a few more that are still in the early phases of development with the technical support of ICAR-CIFA. Larger round pearls and designer pearls in various designs such as goddess Laxmi, Holy Cross, Ganesha, and other beautiful shapes are currently in high demand in India. Time has come to educate more people about pearl farming, as this aquaculture technology is expected to generate a lot of employment and money. To produce excellent pearls in a shorter period, new developments in freshwater pearl farming should be introduced into farmer's fields in the future.

### **13. Conclusion**

The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture has made significant progress in areas such as the identification of newer biocompatible nuclei, surgical implantation technique, mussel pre and post-operative care, graft and nucleus rejection minimization, pond culture of implanted mussels, and pearl value addition. Efforts are also being made to develop low-cost technologies for farmers through the use of basic, readily available equipment in pearl cultivation. Glochidial larvae culture *in vivo* and *in vitro* has also been the bailiwick of recent research. The technology of freshwater pearl culture is also being disseminated with a focus on farmers, investors, state government officials, researchers, and students across the country to enhance technical skills and popularise freshwater pearl culture technology to new heights. However, the limited availability of skilled personnel for precise implantation and a lack of effective marketing networks are the two most significant barriers to successful pearl farming adoption. Commercialization of this skilled technology necessitates a well-thought-out strategy at the regional and farm levels, as well as entrepreneurial development and participation. To summarise, freshwater pearl farming has a large economic, social, and environmental impact. In the future, this pearl-growing method is expected to become one among the most well-known components of India's freshwater aquaculture.

### **Acknowledgements**

The authors wish to thank the Director, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture for providing necessary facilities for carrying out the work.

### **Conflict of interest**

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

*Update on Malacology*
