From Paychecks to Pearls: Haryana Workers Turn Side Hustle into Rs 1 Crore Pearl Farming Venture

3 October 2025

Factory dreams

Inside a textile factory in Haryana, Salinder Kumar worked long hours on machines while Rajesh Goswami sat at a desk — both dreaming of a life beyond monthly wages.

A chance discovery

In 2013, during a tea break, Rajesh stumbled upon an online advertisement for a pearl farming course in Odisha. Curiosity soon turned into determination.

Pearl farming

The duo decided to venture into pearl farming — an unfamiliar but promising niche with little competition and huge potential.

Learning the craft

They enrolled in CIFA’s two-day training, learning for the first time about water conditions, mussel care, and the delicate process of cultivating pearls.

First step

Back in Haryana, they invested Rs 3.5 lakh, built six cement tanks, and sourced mussels from Odisha.

Double shifts

Even after long factory shifts, evenings were spent monitoring water quality, algae growth, and mussel health.

First success

For over a year, they juggled both jobs. Slowly but surely, the tanks began producing pearls — proof that the risk was worth it.

Scaling up

Encouraged by success, they quit their jobs and expanded to one lakh mussels across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Daman.

A thriving venture

Their business, Jai Shri Pearl Farming, flourished. With only 30% mussel loss, turnover soon crossed Rs 1 crore, with pearls sold in India, the US, Canada, and Australia.

An inspiration

They trained over 200 locals, helping them start pearl farms too. Today, Salinder lives in a spacious new home, drives his own car, and has children studying abroad. “With innovation and persistence, even factory workers can turn dreams into reality,” he says.

Want to learn how this Haryana duo achieved success in pearl farming?