SHILLONG: The utilisation of funds in the state as far as silk is concerned is good and the Central Silk Board wants the Meghalaya Government to take interest and assist the board in implementing various programmes and schemes in the state for the benefit of farmers and weavers.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, K.M. Hanumantharayappa, chairman, Central Silk Board asserted that the Board would help the farmers in the state to the best of its capabilities and the State Government should cooperate with the Board.
Stating that the silk in the North region is of very good quality, he added that the Board had laid special emphasis for production of muga, silk and mulberry for the north East region.
He said that a mulberry project worth Rs 29 crore was being implemented in Thadlaskein in West Jaintia Hills, adding that 24 projects worth Rs 690 crores are being implemented in the North Eastern states.
On the other hand, Moncy Issac, Deputy Secretary, Central Silk Board (Technical) informed that production of silk. Mulberry and Muga was practiced in more than 100 districts of the North East but the problem lied in lack of awareness in the region besides language barrier.
Giving statistics, he informed that the total contribution of the North East region in the country’s silk production was 8 percent in the year 1997 which has now increased to 21 percent. The Central Silk Board has set a target to ensure that North Eastern states contribute 30 percent of the total silk produced in the country by the year 2030.
The chairman, Central Silk Board is in Shilling for visiting different sericulture farms besides visiting project sites.