By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong has informed that the State will soon be able to produce wool with the assistance of the Central Wool Development Board (CDWB) under the Union Ministry of Textiles.
“We deserve to have wool industry and wool banks in different states of the region considering our potentiality in this sector,” Lanong said while inaugurating the 10-day Second Shillong Woolen Expo 2012 at Youth Hostel here on Monday.
While observing that most of the cattle reared in the State were used for meat consumption, Lanong said animal farming should be diversified into woolen and garment industry. Pointing out that sheep rearing, which was rare in the State, would now find prominence with the setting up of a wool bank, which is in its penultimate stage, he said.
It may be mentioned that the Union Ministry of Textiles will provide subsidized funding for creation of the World Bank that will incorporate sheep and Angora rabbit and other wool producing animal rearing, technical expertise, training and setting up of infrastructure for wool exhibition cum sale and information.
In his welcome address, Advisor Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC-NER) Nakib Ahmed said, “Setting up of the wool bank is ideal as the demand of woolen products is vast due to the fact that Northeastern part of India is comprised mainly of hilly states where the duration of winter is longer than other parts of the country.”
He further elaborated on ICC’s effort of setting up a wool bank in the State, which he said would come up by this winter.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Commissioner and Secretary of Commerce and Industries, L Kharkongor, and Padmashree Patricia Mukhim, who had pioneered the idea of creation of a wool bank in the region.