Sericulture’s gradual growth, at least in projects, in Nagaland

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb 12 (EMN): Sericulture has been one of the most important industry sectors playing a dominant role in the rural development of Nagaland state since 1988.

Sericulture, or silk farming, is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Silk was believed to have first been produced in China as early as the Neolithic Period. Sericulture is an important cottage industry in countries such as Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Russia.

The department of Sericulture states that the total strength of the department is 274 regular employees including ministerial and grade-IV employees and in the government farms, labours are engaged on contingency paid basics.

Some of the developmental programmes under State plan as informed by the department are stated in the table. It was informed that so far funds amounting to INR 300.00 lakh have been allotted during 2017-18 t0 2019-2020 for implementation of the programme.

The department is establishing a common facility centre with a project cost of INR 446.67 lakh and is funded from the State Plan, and is implementing at Sungratsu in Mokokchung district, Lakhuti under Wokha district and Kikruma in Phek district, it stated. They informed that the project is expected to be completed by 2020-21.

The construction of the State Sericulture Farmer’s Training Centreat Dhansiripar in Dimapur which was started in 2012-13 with a project cost of INR 424.00 lakh is said to have been successfully completed. The centre was inaugurated on January 23 and will be made functional during 2020-2021.

Further, the department is implementing the Development of Eri culture for Sustainable Livelihood of Eri Farmers as part of a North Eastern Council scheme at Dimapur with a project cost of INR 278.00 lakh.

The project envisages covering 200 acres of Eri—or silkworm—host plant cultivation besides other major project components of silkworm rearing, raising of seedlings, spinning and weaving sector and imparting skill upgrade.

During the current financial year 2019-20 funds of an amount of INR 100 lakh was provided for implementation of the project.

Some highlights and achievements during the year 2018-19

• Selection of beneficiaries with name, Aadhaar number, account number and contact number completed and uploaded in MIS
• Training imparted to all the selected beneficiaries
• Land development and sowing of castor seed and Kesseru plantation completed
• Rearing equipments distributed to 600 beneficiaries
• Maintenance of garden by ‘adopted seed rearers’ for supply of quality seed cocoons in progress