DST-Funded Hands on Training in Pearl Grafting for Differently Abled Tribal Farmers at ICAR Tripura Centre
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 21, 2025
The five-day hands-on training in pearl grafting for differently abled tribal farmers, organized under the DST project Multilayered Agricultural Strategies for Income and Nutritional Security of Cashcrop Plantation Workers of Lefunga Block, concluded day before yesterday at the ICAR Tripura Centre. The training, held from September 15–22, 2022, aimed at empowering selected tribal farmers with skills in high-value aquaculture practices for sustainable income generation.
The program was jointly organized by the ICAR Tripura Centre in collaboration with Purty Agrotech, Ranchi, with scientific leadership from Dr. Rekha Das, Dr. Kouberi Nath, and Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarkar of ICAR Tripura, along with networking partners Dr. Dhalongsai Reang and Dr. Angom Lenin Singh of ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai.
Shri Budhan Singh Purty, CEO of Purty Agrotech and master trainer, expressed satisfaction with the training outcome and lauded the skills demonstrated by the differently abled participants. He emphasized that the collaboration with Purty Agrotech will ensure strong market linkages for the trained farmers in pearl culture.
The valedictory and brainstorming session was chaired by Dr. B. U. Choudhury, HoRC, ICAR Tripura Centre, and attended by senior officials including Sri Diganto Das, Deputy GM, NABARD Tripura; Sri Anjan Sengupta, JD, DBT Tripura; Dr. A. B. Patel, Dean, College of Fisheries; Dr. Narendra Reang, BDO, Lefunga; and Dr. Drona Sarkar, Fishery Officer, Lefunga Block. Also present were Shri Sanjit Debbarma, Chairperson of Shambhurampara Village Council, and Shri Biswachandra Debbarma, MD, Tui Bukma FPC.
Experts deliberated on creating a roadmap for the trainees to establish themselves as independent pearl culturists. The participants were awarded certificates of completion, with many expressing renewed confidence and hope for better livelihoods.
As part of post-training support, the project team will conduct field visits to the trainees’ farms in the coming days to provide tailor-made solutions for their specific challenges. Pearl grafting kits and essential accessories will also be distributed, enabling farmers to initiate pearl culture independently.
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