IMPHAL, April 24: New funding under the North East Textile Promotion Scheme, NERTPS has given new hopes to sericulture farmers in the State, said a farmer from Imphal East district at the venue of the ongoing four-day long Cocoon Buyers`\u2122 and Sellers`\u2122 Meet.<\/p>\n
The meet is being held at the Sericulture Project Management Complex Sangaipat Imphal East.<\/p>\n
Speaking to media persons, cocoon farmer Tidimus from Soraland Yairipok said cocoon farming has been practiced in his village since a long time back. In the past, the farmers were not satisfied with the funding and many had even left the practice, he said.<\/p>\n
However, during the last couple of years the centrally sponsored scheme has been revived, he said.<\/p>\n
With proper guidance from the officials, he said he is able to start and produce atleast 40 kg more than his previous yield.<\/p>\n
Financial assistance under the scheme has encouraged farmers to work harder and if such a trend continues production will certainly increase in the coming years, the farmer said.<\/p>\n
Another farmer from Uyumpok Village, Y Devananda said that before there were many cocoon rearers however, production was very less and this was because the farmers think only of money.<\/p>\n
He said a family can easily survive by rearing cocoons.<\/p>\n
The farmer continued that he was unable to construct a proper molting house for rearing cocoon.<\/p>\n
Now that the farmers have received 70 percent of the financial assistance meant under the scheme, he has constructed one which is still not big enough, he said.<\/p>\n
Production can increase if he is able to expand his molting house, he continued.<\/p>\n
Sericulture department, assistant director Technical head quarter said the department officials have the records of all the cocoons brought in by the farmers of every district.<\/p>\n
As per the record available, approximately 5000 kgs of cocoon have been brought at the meet till date, he said.<\/p>\n
He continued that the sericulture officials monitor the cocoon products brought to the meet before they are sold off. The finest cocoon has a 25 percent silk percentage and the rates of the cocoon are fixed by the department according to the silk percentage, he added.<\/p>\n
Cocoon with more than 18 percent silk are sold at Rs 400\/ kg while those with less than 18 percent silk are sold at Rs 300\/ kg, he added.<\/p>\n\n