Tottering Sericulture Project moves on to 2nd phase
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 19 2012: Even as failure of submitting the utilization certificate in time for the phase-I of Manipur Sericulture Project has cast a shadow of doubt over the future of this ambitious project, efforts are already underway for paying attention to rearing of Eri silkworm in the second phase.

The ambitious Manipur Sericulture Project was started by the Government of Manipur since July 20, 1998 with assistance from Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF), now renamed as Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) .

The project is to be implemented in two phases.

However, even after completion of the first phase, that too after several extensions, in 2008, the utilization certificate has not yet been able to submit, thus casting a shadow of doubt over the future of the project.

The total outlay of this phase was Rs.134.52 crores, of which, OECF project loan fund covers Rs.116.19 crores (86.37 percent) and the remaining Rs.18.33 crores (13.63 percent) is the state share.

According to a booklet titled, 'A bird-eye view of Manipur Sericulture Project, Phase-I', published by Department of Sericulture, Government of Manipur, during the phase-I 1000 Field Operating Units (FOUs) each consisting of five individuals have been set up and 4197 pre-fabricated seed farms and rearing houses have been constructed.

However, out of the 1000 FOUs, 284 of them could not make any significant contribution to the Project till 2011 .

It may be recalled here that reports related to dismantling and selling of the pre-fabricated houses constructed or utilizing them as cow sheds instead of rearing silkworms have been highlighted through this daily on its July 15, 2011 edition.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with the present condition of the project, Director of Sericulture H.Ginjamang Simte and Principal of Sericulture Institution Th Gambhir informed that out of the 1000 FOUs, only 551 are working in the field today and nothing could be said what happened to the remaining FOUs.

Although there is newspaper report on dismantling of the pre-fabricated houses and selling off the construction materials, so far no action has been taken up against anyone since there is no official report in this regard.

Nonetheless, necessary action would be taken up against all concerned in accordance to the agreement signed at the time of starting the project as and when an official report is received, the two officers assured.

During the interaction which was held on the sideline of inaugurating a two-day long Buyer and Seller Meet at the complex of Project Manager located at Sangaipat, Ginjamang Simte further disclosed that the as the utilization certificate for the first phase has not yet been submitted, the Union Ministry of Textiles has not given the clearance taking the loan from JBIC for implementing the second phase of the project.

In spite of that, some steps have already been started for the second phase with an amount of Rs 10.22 crores sanctioned under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA).

Efforts are also on for procuring weeding machines under Rahstriya Kihan Vikash Yojana and loan from DoNER Ministry.

Principal of Sericulture Institution Th Gambhir supplemented that even though the fund for second phase has not yet been released, it is same as starting of the second phase of the project since necessary works are underway with the sanctioned amount of Rs 10.22 crores under SPA.

Unlike in the first phase where attention was given to rearing of silkworm from Mulberry leaves, this time efforts would be made towards rearing of Eri silkworms which feed on leaves of Castor plants.

Moreover, subsidies would be given to those who are interested in buying spinning machines.

As more than half of the FOUs set up are not working properly, the production of silk work has been affected greatly.

If all the 1000 FOUs were working actively, then they would have been able to produce at least around 17 lakh silkworms in a year and produced 6802 metric tonne of of silk.

Unfortunately, only 450 metric tonne of silkworms and 45 metric tonne of silk could be produced last year.

It is expected at last 30 metric tonne of silkworms would be produced this time, Gambhir added.

Principal Secretary in-charge of Sericulture O Nabakishore; Consultant of IC Net Limited, Japan JV Krishana Rao and Director of Sericulture H Ginjamang Simte attended the inaugural function of today's Buyer and seller meet as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and President respectively.

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