Farmers can earn more from sericulture than vegetable farming, says Central Silk Board Chairman
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 07 2019: Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, GoI Chairman KM Hanumantharayappa has conveyed that the Board along with Sericulture Departments of all the States are collectively striving towards boosting the sericulture sectors in the country.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of "One day Oak Tasar Krishi Mela Cum Exhibition" organized by Regional Sericulture Research Station, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Gol, Mantripukhri, Imphal at its complex today.

The Chairman went on to point out that many farmers in the country are not aware about various Governmental schemes implemented in the country for promotion of sericulture besides farmers.

Pointing out that the lack of awareness is one big reason why farmers are not taking keen interest in sericulture, he asserted that this ultimately affects in the production.

He highlighted that there is even a centrally sponsored sericulture scheme, where farmers have to produce only 10 percent in buying machine for producing yarn from cocoons while the Central Silk Board and State Government have to produce 80 percent and another 10 percent respectively.

The Central Silk Board in collaboration with the Sericulture Departments of all the States in the country are now working towards raising awareness about appropriate schemes as well as organizing relevant training for application of latest technologies to the farmers.

The Central Silk Board is also pondering and looking over the shortage and ways for the Board to assist the sericulture departments in the States, Hanumantharayappa continued.

Maintaining that silk are in huge demand in the country and that all the four types of silk are found abundantly in the State owing to favourable climatic conditions and soil type, the Chairman stated that farmers can earn huge income from sericulture works as the said occupation is double and triple times profitable than cultivating vegetables.

Informing that India imports raw materials for manufacturing silk products from China, Japan and Korea as the raw materials produced here cannot meet the demands of the weavers in the country, the Chairman stated that the Central Silk Board is also focusing towards making the country self sufficient in silk production, under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, Scientist-D & Head, Regional Sericulture Research Station N Ibotombi conveyed that the Oak Tasar Krishi mela cum exhibition was organized with the main aim to create awareness among the farmers about application of technology in sericulture as well as to explore the problems faced by the fanners in taking up sericulture works.

Informing that oak tasar plants grown in around 20,000 hectares of land out of the total area of around 40,000 hectares in the State are usable for rearing silkworms, he said that around 65,000 cocoons can be reaped from a hectare of land (in a single cropping).

The function was also attended by Department of Sericulture, GoM Director S Kunjakishore and Manipur State Sericulture Co-operative Federation Limited, Imphal Chairman Th Surjaboro as the president and guest of honour respectively.

Apart from exhibiting different items in 19 stalls opened at the Mela, technical sessions was also held later in the afternoon session.

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