Early monsoon rains have triggered an unexpected boom in the fields of the Rayalaseema region, with villagers and migrant workers in Anantapur district turning to diamond hunting alongside their kharif cultivation. Reports show farmers in rain-washed lands of Anantapur and neighboring districts now search for precious stones in villages like Tuggali and Peravali, where heavy rains strip topsoil and expose buried gems.
Long considered a folklore activity, diamond hunting has gained renewed momentum this season — people work in black-soil fields for hours, sometimes discovering diamonds worth lakhs of rupees. The region’s tradition stretches back centuries, with connections to the famed Golconda/Kolconda diamond mines.
Despite occasional big wins — such as stones reportedly sold for ₹13 lakh or more — many hunters return home empty-handed. Local farmers, landowners, and traders warn of unregulated sales and exploitation: large syndicates offer distressed prices while claiming rights to purchase the finds. Officials say there is currently no formal system of oversight in the trade.
The phenomenon also points to a changing rural economy: migrants return home during rains, redefine fields not just for crops but for glimmers of fortune. For Anantapur district, the diamond rush draws attention to the potential for alternative livelihoods, but also highlights the need for regulation, fair pricing, and land-rights safeguarding.