Silk and cocoon production on the rise in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jun 23 (UNI) Mizoram Sericulture department has increased its silk and cocoon production after it recognised its potential to replace the existing Jhum cultivation across the region.

The state government has increasingly given importance to the methodical development in the region this year as a result, the production of cocoon and raw silk has shown a commendable increase.

The boom in sericulture farming is clearly indicated by the fact that more than 3000 families have planted mulberry cutting against the target of just 500 families, they pointed out adding more than two lakh silkworm seeds, 45 metric tonnes of cocoon and four metric tonnes of raw silk were produced this year.

More than 500 acres was brought under sericulture farming and 20 lakh mulberry cuttings were distributed to the farmers in the state.

About 400 kgs of cocoon has been produced from trial rearing at Lawngtlai district under special mulbery development scheme.

The government plans to promote mulberry sericulture by giving assistance in the form of rearing appliances, land development, cultivation cost and provision of CGI sheets under Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme (BAFFACOS),a programme designed to address the problems likely to arise during the anticipated famine period brought on by largescale bamboo flowering followed by rodent upsurge.

The deparment also proposed to produce 2.70 lakh silkworm seeds, 20 metric tonnes of dry cocoon and two metric tonnes of raw silk, the official sources said adding sericulture department officers and staff led by Minister K Sangthuama planted 2500 saplings of mulberry and som at Sihhmui yesterday.

UNI SNR PP PL RN1351