Nainital Research Centre achieves world record in breeding silkworm eggs

Nainital, Apr 18 (ANI): Nainital-based Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre has created a world record in the field of silkworm egg laying.

The scientists and other staff members of the research centre are very pleased by the way the project has shaped up.

The average eggs per moth at the research centre are in the range of 240 to 260 as compared to China's 160 to 200 eggs.

The number of eggs per gram in the research centre is 108-110 in comparison with China's 120 eggs per gram. These yardsticks signify that the eggs of Oak Tasar Research Centre are healthy.

The main reason for the success can be attributed to the innovative measures taken by the scientists at the centre.

"We provide good feed to the silk worms due to which the silk worm gains more weight. When it converts into pupa, it becomes big in size because of which the moth is also big in size and when the moth is big, it will certainly give more number of eggs," said Dr. R. S. Yadav, a scientist of Regional Oak Tasar Reserch Center.

The institute has also been taking special care to minimise the egg losses.

"Earlier the eggs were kept in wooden baskets, now they are kept in plastic baskets. They have been kept in an aerated environment because of which the scrapping is also good and the recovery of eggs is more," said Dr. Somesh Paliwal, In-charge of Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre.

The Appropriate Technology India (ATI), the biggest silk research organisation in the country, has given an award to the Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre in recognition of its immense contribution in the field of Oak Tasar development.

Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir are the main oak tasar producing states in India.

India is the second largest producer of silk after China and the largest consumer of silk in the world. (ANI)