JIRIBAM, November 11: Owing to not having enough space for keeping the Eri and Muga silks, the Jiribam Sericulture Office which is well known for producing these silks in the State has been converted into an egg preparation hall.
Concerned authorities have been providing a means of livelihood to several households by successfully undertaking various Eri and Muga silk cultivation projects in the State.
However, the poor infrastructure of the sericulture office in Jiribam subdivision poses a threat to the very survival of these projects.
T Sanjit, an official who is looking after the sericulture office, said there are more than 300 farmers who are cultivating Muga and Eri silks.
The total area of the Sericulture office used to be 13 acres but now it has been reduced to just about three acres after the remaining lands were claimed for the construction of a Sports Complex and PHED, he added.
The worms being kept in the Sericulture office are of Muga and Eri silks. The Muga worms are bought from farmers at Rs 1.50 apiece and the Eri worms at Rs 90 a kilo, he informed.
There are around 9000 Muga silk worms which are being kept for grainage and more than 350 Kgs of Eri silk worms, he said, adding the Muga and Eri silk worms are being stored at the same place as there are inadequate space for storing them separately.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/lack-of-space-puts-muga-and-eri-silk-cultivation-in-peril/