SHILLONG: Rapid urbanization and deforestation has many ill effects and it is taking its toll on Meghalaya and the silk worm face the threat of extinction in the State and even gradually the rearing of sericulture has drastically come down in the State.
Concerned with the depletion of silk worms, the State Government has decided to adopt new technologies to increase the silk cultivation in the state besides reviving the interest of both the weavers and the entrepreneurs.
Endemic to North East, the Muga silk moths that help produce the world’s famous golden weaves are facing premature death due to deforestation and mining activities.
According to experts, misuse of land and deforestation is also becoming one of the prime causes of decreasing food availability of Muga Silkworms as Muga worms are very sensitive to odours of toxic chemicals, temperature fluctuations and humidity.
Sericulture Minister Zenith Sangma told reporters that experts from Fashion technology will also be brought on contractual basis so that they can train weavers on the latest fashion and thus bring back the interest of the people into sericulture.
Sangma, however, said that the reason for depletion of silk worm is yet to be ascertained while admitting that the interest of the people on Sericuture rearing has gone down.
Earlier, Meghalaya was doing quite good in terms of silk production as People of Ri Bhoi area and certain parts of Garo hills specially were involved in it but gradually people changed their means of livelihood as they switched over to some other sector, although the definite reason is not known.
