Cocoon Mela held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 11 2016:
As part of the ongoing first
Manipur Industrial Expo, 2016 'Sericulture
Day' Cocoon Mela cum seminar was conducted
yesterday by the Department of Commerce and
Industries and Department of Sericulture, Govt
of Manipur.
Governor V Shanmuganathan graced the
function as the chief guest while Sericulture/
Commerce and Industries minister Govindas
Konthoujam presided the function.
Chief Sec-
retary O Nabakishore was the guest of
honour and Principal Secretary (Sericulture/
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry)
Lungmuana Lakher attended as the chief host
of the function.
V Shanmuganathan com-
mented that farmers should be well equipped
about the essence of sericulture.
Silk growers/
farmers are hard-working and their works
need to be encouraged and appreciated.
The
Governor termed farmers who had significant
silk productivity as 'Champion of farming,
captain of Agriculture and Captain of
Sericulture.'
Govindas Konthoujam stated that Manipur
is the second largest producer of mulberry in
the entire North East.
The State is endowed
with suitable climate for growing and produc-
tion of four types of silk- Mulberry silkworm,
Eri worm, Oak Tasar food plants and Muga
silkworms.
He added that all concerned must
encourage farmers to enhance their silk pro-
duction to improve the State's economy.
Chief
Secretary O Nabakishore highlighted that
Manipur has a history of producing silk from
time immemorial.
Muga and Mulberry silk
products are considered to be very special and
important.
He further stated that the farmers
need to produce more and try to find markets
in other States and countries too.
As part of
the function, the chief guest distributed muga
rearing kits to eight muga farmers and also
released a book written by Dr BK Singh.