tiol workshop on Muga and Silk iugurated

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 10: A two-day tiol level workshop on “Emerging Needs and Critical Gaps in Muga and Eri Seed Sectors” was organized by Muga Silkworm Seed Organization (MSSO), along with Central Silk Board, Guwahati at the Conference Hall of Assam Agricultural Marketing Board in the city today, which was iugurated by vice chancellor of Cotton College State University DJ Saikia.

Saikia in his special speech emphasized on carrying out the inclusive research and development works  in muga and eri silk through developing synergies and collaboration among different research and development organizations, institutes and agencies so that ultimate benefits percolate to the different stakeholders. Saikia said, “Stake holders have to create some new ideas so that the valuable silk can be produced more. The universities also have to play important role in this regard.”

Further Saikia advised the scientists and officers to emphasis on enhancing the adoption level of promising improved technologies developed in eri and muga silk sector.

MSSO head BK Singh said in his speech, “The raw silk production of eri and muga silks reached all time high in the state that is 4726 MT and 158 MT respectively during 2014-15 . This has encouraged setting a goal of production level at 200 MT for Muga and 5600 MT Eri during 2016-17 for which 200 Lakh muga and 933 lakh eri commercial disease free layings need to be produced and supplied to muga and eri rearers. However, the muga sector in the state is facing inherent problems like high incidence of disease and pests, vagaries of climate, environmental pollution, lack of established improved breed, etc. It is, therefore, high time to develop a time bound realistic action plan to address the issues in various aspects such as silkworm host plant magement and rearing magement, quality seed production and strengthening of seed supply chain in muga and eri silkworm seed production. To discuss the seed related critical gaps and issues among different stakeholders such as scientists, academicians, planners, state government officials, entrepreneurs and farmers to come out with suitable strategies for drawing out a realistic action oriented plan with a road map for the coming years, we organized this workshop.”

The workshop was also attended by dignitaries like Bangalore Central Silk Board Director (Tech.) P Jayaprakash, retired scientist of NEIST Dr SN Choudhury, scientist of North Eastern Space Application Centre B.K. Handique, Directors and senior officials of Sericulture, Mizoram, BTC, Meghalaya and galand and 200 other participants from across the country.