KANGPOKPI, June 23: A one day Mulberry Cocoon exhibition was held in the presence of cocoon rearers, experts and allied department officials at District Sericulture Office located at new DC office complex yesterday.
Grown and produced from local field, more than 100 kgs of mulberry grown cocoon from places like Paomata, Mao and Senapati areas were displayed during the exhibition.
A profession not common among the paddy cultivators in the Hill Districts but mainly mainlanders opted for and harvest good income.
However, it is a rare sight of local rearers collected from different village of Senapati District depositing their cocoons for the exhibition.
The exhibition programme had been attended by District Horticulture and Soil Conservation Officer Senapati Th Biren; deputy director, Veterinary Apao Sani and EO, Agriculture Department Senapati N Asholi Mao as chief guest, guest of honor and president of the function respectively.
Many of the dignitaries who attended the inaugural function of the exhibition spoke on the occasion while rearers of the Mulberry Cocoon also shared their experiences and the value of growing cocoons through different methods.
District Sericulture Officer, C.M Paul while briefing about the sericulture project in Senapati district conceded that only few farmers are now interested in the otherwise high value cocoon growing business.
With just some few structures of the 264 rearing houses being utilized fruitfully, the II phase project funded by Ministry of Textiles will be implemented under strict monitoring the DSO asserted.
He continued that the rearing houses and other materials under the Phase-I Sericulture Project was jointly funded by Japanese government and Indian government, but failed to secure its desired goal due to many lapses.
Out of the different rearing process under Tsar, Eri and Mulberry plants, the district is best suited to Eri for rearing cocoons, C.M. Paul added.
