Muga has other uses too: Rahman

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 9: People in Assam like to wear attires made of muga silk in almost every rituals, but most of us are ignorant of the silk’s other uses.
Muga silk - the production of which is exclusive to Assam, has been related to the State’s legacy. However, people seem to know only the fashioble side of it. The qualities of Muga silk in many ways are useful in other forms as well.
“People mainly know Muga silk as yarn of classy ‘mekhela –chadors’ and other attires. This silk is also useful in barring ultra-violet rays because of its soft texture. It is also known that people are making umbrellas out of Muga silk. The Muga silk is also used in modern medical science. Types of threads which are used in operation while stitching wounds are replaced by Muga type. Because of its high protein content it dissolves with the body as a result no extra checkup is necessary to get rid of the threads after the healing of the wound. Muga is skin-friendly unlike other textile and it prevents rashes,” Directorate of Sericulture Extension Officer Dr. Ajijur Rahman said.
Rahman further said that there are four functiol cocoon banks, one each in Lakhimpur, Kamrup, Udalguri and Sivsagar that regulate the price of the silk produced in Assam. The banks also make sure that the farmers are paid handsomely “At one instance farmers were paid up to Rs 700-800 per kg of endi cocoon owing to a good season. More than fifty per cent of profits are attributed to the farmers of the respective silks,” he said.
Rahman is of the view that the Directorate of Sericulture is in the need of a trust to avail new government schemes. He called for technology in the field of sericulture to attract the youth. The issue of depredating green coverage in Assam can be addressed by the production of Muga and other silks extensively, he said.