Our Correspondent
Diphu, Oct. 31 (EMN): In a joint programme organised by Sericulture and Irrigation departments under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), a total of 130 active silkworm farmers received a cash award of INR 10,000 and rearing appliances, while the Irrigation department distributed canvas pipes to farmers of tubewell scheme under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Har Khet Ko Pani Phase – II.
Another 336 farmers also received electricity bill debit from the government under the same scheme PMKSY - Har Khet Ko Pani for irrigating their farmlands, in a distribution programme held at Sarsing Teron (Langkung Habe) Memorial Town Hall here on Monday.
Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang said the PMKSY – Kar Khet Ko Pani was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand cultivated areas with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency. In Karbi Anglong, the scheme was launched in the second phase. A total of 450 farmers have availed the PMKSY scheme. The target is to benefit 1000 farmers to help them to cultivate their land through irrigation water, the CEM said.
The CEM also said that the Amreng Irrigation scheme with a total cost of INR 583 crore, if completed, will be the largest in Northeast India. The Assam government has a contribution of INR 64 crore. If operational, it will benefit the neighboring Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituencies like Kopili, Amreng, part of Hamren and Bithung Rengthama.
To the silkworm farmers, the CEM said there should be more farmers taking up rearing silkworms as it is an easy job and more profitable.
Earlier, Executive Member (EM), KAAC, Irrigation, Sericulture etc., Lunsing Teron said there are various schemes under the Sericulture department to support farmers taking up silkworm rearing.
“ If erri fodder plants (castor plants) are planted in one bigha, the income received from erri worms rearing by farmers in one season is INR 2 lakh. The activity of silkworm rearing is easy and also more profitable and farmers should go for it,” the EM said. He also said rearing silkworms is important as the cocoons from silkworms are prepared as threads and made into fabric and garments.