Seri project not making much headway in State
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 20 2013: Principal Secretary of Commerce & Industry and Sericulture O Nabakishore Singh, IAS has categorically observed that regardless of the potential for development of sericulture and favorable climatic condition, Manipur is still far behind other Indian states in term of sericulture activities, and being a disturbed area, most of the ambitious projects funded by Japan have not been able to make much headway in the state.

Nabakishore, who attended the inaugurating function of 7-day long sericulture training cum workshop being organized by Sericulture Department, Government of Manipur at the auditorium of Sericulture Training Center (STC) located at Kwakta under Bishnupur district on Wednesday, said that the State Government is providing enough funds to promote sericulture and increased its products.

However, nothing much has been changed so far.

He pointed out that China is No 1 in sericulture production today with an annual product of more than 1,10,000 metric tonne per year, whereas India's annual sericulture production is only 22,000 metric tonne.

Again, out of this total production of the country, Manipur has been able to contribute just about 373 metric tons including 115 metric tonne of mulberry; 200 metric tonne of Eri and 1 metric tonne of Tasar silk.

Appreciating the effort of the Sericulture Department in organizing the training cum workshop for in-service sericulture officers, Nabakishore observed that this would not only refresh the knowledge of Sericulture officers but would also provide an opportunity to learn various modern technologies about sericulture.

The Principal Secretary also appealed to all the participants to share the knowledge they gained from the training cum workshop to farmers who are working in the fields.

Director of Sericulture, Government of Manipur, H Ginjamang Simte, who presided over the inaugural function, informed that the Government is planning to make Manipur as one of India's Sericulture states.

So, in order to increase the output of sericulture products we need to change the present work culture and give special attention on Oak Tasar.

He also announced that the State Government has upgraded STC, which is the lone sericulture training institute in Manipur, and classes for certificate courses on sericulture would be conducted starting from this academic session.

Moreover, Sericulture Directorate has already sent letter to Manipur University for affiliation, Ginjamang added.

Vice President of Kwakta Nagar Panchayat Abdul Karim, who attended the inaugural function as Guest of Honour, assured that people of Kwakta would cooperate in the development of STC and its other activities.

During the function, Nabakishore released the prospectus of STC for the year, 2013 .

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