New Delhi, November 12 2008: EDUCATION AND Seri- culture Minister L Jayantakumar here today stated that a Japanese team is visiting Manipur in the last week of this month to see the progress of the ongoing Rs.490.59 crore Japan Sericulture Project in Manipur.

The first phase of the project started in July 1998 after a loan agreement was made in December 1997 between the Government of India and Japan Bank of International Corporation. The Sericulture Minister said that the construction of the Sericulture Office Complex having multipurpose facilities like administrative building, dormitory, grainage, open cocoon market etc.

at Sangaipat in Imphal East District in Manipur was ready for inauguration.

It would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh in November- December this year.

The first phase of the project involving plantation of mulberry plants and nurturing the silk worms had been completed.

The Minister stated that the team from Japan would be coming to Manipur for starting the second phase of the project involving technical support in the production of the value-added silk.

Manipur is a unique state in the world where four varieties of silk namely mulberry, eri, muga and oak tasar are produced.

However, the production of quality silk could not be made due to lack of infrastructure in the government farms and lack of equipments to the private rearers.

In order to provide self-employment in the State of Manipur and also for development of rural economy in the State by increasing silk production, the Department of Sericulture, Manipur initiated to implement Manipur Sericulture Project with assistance from the Government of Japan through the Government of India.

Project with assistance from the Government of Japan through the Government of India.

The phase-I of the project started with an outlay of Rs 134.52 crore including Rs.18.33 crore as State Share in July 1998 focusing on the two objectives namely alleviation of poverty by giving self-employment to 30,720 persons, and increasing the production level of mulberry silk from 46 MT to 150 MT and eri silk from 160 MT to 168 MT.

It may be mentioned that two years back, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry Shri Jairam Ramesh while meeting mediapersons in Imphal assured full support for the JBIC-aided Rs 490.59 crore Manipur Sericulture project, especially for marketing of value-added silk products in both domestic and international markets.

He also stated that the production of high quality bi-voltine silk in Manipur would fetch huge economic benefits for the state.

The Union Minister further expressed that the Government of India might also fund the setting up of a showroom in Varanasi for value-added silk products from Manipur and help the State set up marketing centre in Bangkok .

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