India:Minister inspects sericulture project sites
Author:
admin
PublishDate:
2008-09-12 16:01:00
Hit:
243
IMPHAL, Sept 9: The sericulture minister, L Jayenta, today toured the Japan Bank of International Cooperation, JBIC, sponsored Japanese Sericulture Project at Bishnupur and Thoubal districts.
The project is at its first stage and the minister inspected the work to ensure that the project is progressing as per plan.
In a brief meeting with the media after his visit, he said a team from the JBIC is also scheduled to arrive in the state in October to determine if the schemes the bank sanctioned and sponsored as part of the project’s Phase-1 are showing signs of success.
Depending on their assessment of the progress of Phase-1, funds for Phase-2 would be released, the minister told the media present.
Phase-1 involves plantation of Mulberry plants and nurturing the silk worms. In Phase-2, the bank will provide funds for acquiring the machineries as well as technological skills for producing silk threads from the cocoons.
The minister said Bishenpur being new to sericulture, he was not totally satisfied with the work progress. He however appreciated the effort of the project participants at starting a mulberry plantation in these areas.
He said Imphal East is the district where sericulture is most suited, as the people are traditionally aware of the profession of silk making. The project is at the most advanced stage in this district, he added.
He said Manipur is a low income region and mulberry plantation and silk making can be a boon for the state as the soil is suited for this trade.
Manipur it may be recalled has a long tradition of indigenous sericulture and silk fabric making.
Briefing media about the state of the sericulture department, he said is aware of the manpower shortage in the department and he is in consultation with the chief minister, to find out ways to meet this need.
He said once the construction work at the sericulture office infrastructure at Sangaipat is complete, a concrete step in augmenting the manpower in the department will become more feasible.
He said after the JBIC visit, the sericulture office complex at Sangaipat would be ready for inauguration by the Prime Minister. He also added that he has left aside a sum of Rs 5 lakh for an awareness campaign of sericulture in the months ahead for the benefit of those who would be growing mulberry and culturing silk worms as part of the project.
Source: Industry Website