IMPHAL July, 13: In a major boost to the state’s silk production, the silk farmers in the state under initiatives of the state sericulture department, have been able to produced nearly 45 metric tones of internationally graded silk thread during the period of 2009-10 with an estimated cost of Rs 11 crores.
The major boost in the production has been made possible by the first phase of the state sericulture project of the department during the time period of 2009-10.
According to Dr. P Naba Singh, who is currently working as a senior mulberry expert in the project management complex of sericulture dept., Shangaipat, the top class silk thread produced in the state is technically known as 2A which is obtained from cocoons of a hybrid silk worm.
Further explaining on the production of the 2A silk thread, he told IFP that the hybrid silk worm was produced after a one year long extensive experiment and observation through a process called bi-volitine.
The experiment for bi-volitine process was jointly undertaken by Dr. Y Otsuki of Japan and himself in which the eggs were brought from Japan, he maintained and added that Dr. Y Otsuki who left after the one year observation ended, was hired by the state as a consultant for the sericulture project.
However, the department conducted a test, called the adaptability test which was five years long during which he himself tried to find out the adaptability of the silk-worm produced through the process of Bi-Volitine with the climatic conditions of the state.
He further informed the IFP that at the end of the test, he alongwith his team was able to identify six bi-volitine hybrids which are very much adaptable to the state climate for their survival and growth.
Further elaborating on the topic, he maintained that various local silk farmers and entrepreneurs of West Bengal and Mizoram have also demanded the brood produced from the bi-volitine process; however the department is unable to meet most of their demands due to the long distance and the problems of transporting the broods. He further maintained that the state used to import silk eggs from places like Bangalore, however, after the successful experimentation of vi-volitine hybrids, the state department can produced the required silk eggs and distribute it to the different local silk farmers which has not only increased the production of the local farmers but also their profits.
He further maintained that, the state seri has the potential to reach the international market in near future.
The department is expecting to start the second phase of the state seri project is in the pipeline.
