Port Blair, Nov 06: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, accompanied by the First Lady, A&N Islands, Smt. Prem Mukhi visited the Pearl Culture Laboratory situated at North Bay here this morning.
During the visit to this lab, the Chairman, Pearl Aquaculture Research Foundation, Dr. Ajai Kumar Sonkar briefed the Lt. Governor about pearl culture here in A&N Islands. Through a video presentation, he explained about the process of pearl culture right from rearing of the oysters to pre operative condition, implantation process, extraction of pearl through safe surgical procedure and its regeneration.
He explained about the difference between pearl culture in fresh water and marine water and also about his breakthrough experiment in ‘Black Pearl’ produced from Black Lipped Oyster, which is found only in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. These oysters have great potential to produce the most valuable black pearls and golden pearls. The Lt. Governor witnessed the live demonstration of pearl forming in oyster and its extraction besides the drilling process and its end product.
The Lt. Governor and the First Lady evinced keen interest in the technology adopted by Dr. Sonkar in pearl culture and oyster rearing; and congratulated the pearl scientist for his innovative techniques in pearl culture and wished that he continues his research in this field further. He remarked that Dr. Sonkar, through his specialization and dedicated efforts in the field of pearl culture has indeed made the country and these Isles very proud.
The Lt. Governor stated that the A&N Administration shall highlight such achievement during the upcoming IITF 2016 to be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from November 14, 2016 onwards. Accordingly, the Industries Department would facilitate the display, sale and demonstration of Black Pearl Production from A&N Islands at the Andaman & Nicobar Pavilion during IITF. The Lt. Governor also interacted with some of the young tourists at North Bay and enquired about their visit to the Islands.
The Secretary Industries, Smt. Rashmi Singh, Assistant Director, Industries, Shri Ajit Anand were also present during this visit.
