SHILLONG: Meghalaya Muga Silk Mission was launched by the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday at the State Convention Center.
The Department of Textiles has proposed to invest an amount of Rs 138 crore over a period of the next five years that is set to benefit 1350 muga farmers. Speaking at the function, Agricultural Production Commissioner, KN Kumar said “India produces 158 MT of muga silk out of which Meghalaya produces 30 MT. The cocoons produced by farmers in Meghalaya go to Assam through middlemen forcing the state’s farmers to lead a life of subsistence even as the middlemen continue to make profits.”
He added, “There had been no significant public investment that deprived the state’s muga farmers of suitable opportunities to thrive. The time to bridge the gap has come.”
With the raw cocoons procured from Meghalaya, the neighbouring state of Assam is thriving by leaps and bounds while Meghalaya is not benefitting since it stops at production of cocoons only.
“Assam is a global market and the muga raw silk has been taken to Assam for value addition while the risks of rearing are completely absorbed by Meghalaya farmers,” he said adding that the state lacks the skill, infrastructure and technology to go ahead with silk production.
Under the Silk Mission, the focus will be on the area of expansion and to develop critical infrastructure for muga silk and platform to train human capital.
With Meghalaya farmers engaged only in production of the cocoon, the Silk Mission will also have a thrust on the post cocoon production activities. As part of the mission, 34 blocks in the state will be the focus areas as these places are suitable for Muga silkworm farming.
