NONGPOH: Chairman of the Central Silk Board, Bissi Gowda, along with four members of the Board visited Nongpoh on Tuesday to review the sericulture activities of Meghalaya in general and Ri Bhoi District in particular.
The team was accompanied by Sarat Deori, Jt. Secretary (Tech) and Dr. P. Jayaprakash, Scientist – D & Head, CSB, Guwahati and also Director of Sericulture, Assam and BTAD.
The visiting team was received by B.C. Hajong, Director of Sericulture, Govt. of Meghalaya and Dr. R. Chowdhury, Senior Scientist, Makoibari Muga Farm.
The team inspected the construction work of the Central Silk Board’s grainage and cocooning house at Makoibari Farm. Dr. Jayaprakash presented all the developmental activities like basic seed production and extension activities in Muga development in Meghalaya to the visiting dignitaries.
Gowda observed that 614 MT of Eri silk, 16 MT of Muga and 14 MT of Mulberry silk was produced during 2013-14 and the State is converting raw silk produced in the State as fabrics and garments with the support of strong handloom weaving clusters.
The Chairman also informed that during 2013-14 Rs.10.5 crore was released to the Meghalaya Government for sericulture development.
He observed that the climatic condition here was more congenial for development and expansion of Muga, Eri and Mulberry silk.
The Silk Board Chairman also noted that Meghalaya has traditional expertise in weaving and vegetable dyes which have vast market avenues both at national and international levels and asked the State to utilize the natural resources and also the support extended by the Centre to ensure that Muga, Eri and Mulberry record highest growth as envisaged in the XII Plan.
