Shortage of cocoon hits hard spinners and weavers

From a Correspondent

Boko, December 16: Mril Kalita, Superintendent of Sericulture, said, “The silk in Assam comprising mainly eri, muga and mulberry has tremendous potential and scope for development. This can be transformed into a vibrant sector that can act as a major tool to boost the economy of the State. It is not only an agro-based cottage industry but also the tradition of Assamese people. To achieve this holistic purpose, the employees under the Directorate of Sericulture, Assam need to change their mindset first. Because, these are the professiols who will motivate the Assamese people to adopt a new vision for marketing their products in the tiol and intertiol market. If we can utilize the opportunity given economic liberalization as well as market-oriented economy then Assam can become a major foreign exchange earner.”

As per the data published by the Directorate of Sericulture, Assam, the per family production of eri yarn is around 12.241 kg and per hectare production of eri yarn is assessed to be approximately 2.3365 kg. “This indicates the poor professiol approach to our duties and responsibilities. With this back ground, we have to start a new journey to lead the silk sector of Assam to a new height. But, the need of the hour is that of paradigm shift in our approach to transform the silk sector exploiting the tural resources, Assamese traditions and up-dated scientific sericulture technologies to the maximum extent,” as stated in Senehjori published by the Directorate of Sericulture, Assam. The number of families engaged in sericulture is 1, 91,566 and total silk yarn production is 2345.00 metric ton.

But in South Kamrup, more than 22,000 families are involved in spinning and weaving and most of families involved with co-operative societies for selling their products complained that eri cocoon is not available at market. So in the last three years their production has reduced to 25 per cent -30 per cent.

This year also, this is the peak season for the farmers but due to shortage of cocoon most of the drop spindle and looms have stopped their production. There is a cocoon bank at Turukpara, Boko but spinners and weavers have complained that this bank was not for them.

This bank, said sources, does not provide cocoon to local weavers. It collects the cocoon and sends the same to Bihar, Madya Pradesh and Kartaka.