Five-Day Training on Muga silkworm Rearing Held in West Bengal

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KOKRAJHAR: Considering the significance and interest of the stakeholders pertaining to Muga culture among the farmers of Siliguri in West Bengal, the Central Silk Board, Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization, Kokrajhar, took an initiative in coordination with the Directorate of Sericulture, Siliguri, West Bengal. It organized a five-day capacity-building and training on Muga productions in Siliguri, Cooch Behar, of West Bengal, which was concluded recently.

Sources from the Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization, Kokrajhar, said that the training programme was aimed at promoting understanding and skill enhancement through hands-on training on Muga silkworm rearing, host plant cultivation, field maintenance, and grainage technology. As many as 25 Muga skilled and semi-skilled farmers from different villages of Cooch Behar, including Khagrabari and Baxiganj attended the training programme.

The programme was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. Arup Krishna Thakur, Joint Director, Department of Sericulture of West Bengal; Mahasankar Majumdar, Scientist -B, CSB, MESSO, P4 Mendipathar, Dr Suraksha Chanotra, Scientist-B, CSB, MESSO, P3 Kowabil, L.K Lahon, STA (SG) CSB, MESSO, P3 Kowabil, and Mrinal Kanti Ghosh, AI, DoS, WB, with traditional lamp lighting, followed by the welcome speech delivered by Lila Kanto Lahon, Senior Technical Assistant, Central Silk Board, Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization, P3 Unit, Kowabil, Kokrajhar, who described the aim and objective of the programme.

The technical session started with an elaborative speech by Mahasankar Majumdar, Scientist-C, who explained the protocol of management of summer crop rearing practices for ensuring a successful crop. After refreshment was served to the participants, Mrinal Kanti Ghosh, AI, DoS WB, explained the scope and future perspectives of Muga in West Bengal. During his speech, he elaborated on the emerging scope of Muga, particularly in Cooch Behar district.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Suraksha Chanotra, Scientist-B, CSB, MESSO, P3 Kowabil of Kokrajhar, delivered an elaborate talk on the plantation and management of the Muga host plant. She described the entire process of ‘som’ and ‘soalu’ cultivation and the sericulture chain from soil to silk. She explained the plantation technique and management practices for ensuring the availability of good quality foliage for silkworms. Dr. S. Chanotra further elaborated on the use of improved technology in Muga rearing. Farm mechanization and improved rearing technologies, including the use of uzi traps, rearing nets, and pre- and post-disinfection techniques, could help the farmers to realize the full potential of the crop, she added.

L K Lahon, STA (SG), CSB, MESSO, and P3 Kowabil of Kokrajhar conducted the field demonstration class on the technique of pruning and pollarding and its significance. He demonstrated the correct method and schedule of pruning in ‘som’ and ‘soalu’ plants. The entire day was full of insightful discussions among the speakers and farmers, and it concluded with fruitful discussions among the participants. The valedictory session was observed on the last day of the training programme, where formal interaction among the farmers and speakers took place, where the speakers satisfied the queries of the trainees.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahasankar Majumdar, Scientist-B, CSB, MESSO, P4 Mendipathar, encouraged farmers to come forward to take up sericulture and Muga as their pride and honour. Dr. Suraksha Chanotra, Scientist-B, CSB, MESSO, P3 Unit, Kowabil, Kokrajhar, who was the training coordinator, extended her points on future perspectives of Muga in the Cooch Behar area and encouraged the farmers to multiply the chain of Muga farmers by engaging more and more farmers in this activity and practicing Muga rearing on scientific lines. Dr. Arup Krishna Thakur, Joint Director, DOS WB, also encouraged the farmers to practice Muga rearing as per the technical guidance rendered by the CSB, MESSO, staff. He also acknowledged the CSB, MESSO, Staffs for their outstanding contribution in rendering the technical knowledge to the farmers of West Bengal by honouring them with a memento as a token of appreciation. Further, certificates were distributed to all the trainees.

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