Cocoon and silk exhibition on in Sangaipat
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 19 2011:
The Cocoon and Silk Exhibition, 2011, which would go on for two days, has opened from today at the Sericulture Project complex of Sangaipat.
The inaugural function of the exhibition being organised jointly by Imphal East District Sericulture Co-operation Federation Ltd and District Sericulture Office, Imphal East, Government of Manipur, was attended by Minister of Sericulture Y Erabot Singh and Lok Sabha MP Dr Thokchom Meinya as chief guest and functional president respectively.
Director of Sericulture Jingjamang Simte and District Sericulture Officer of Imphal East N Ibopishak Singh were also present at the occasion as guests of honour.
Delivering the key note address, president of Seri Federation, Imphal East Hidam Ajit Meetei observed that despite some difficulties faced initially during the course of implementing phase-I of Manipur Sericulture Project, momentum of the work picked up between 2001 and 2005 .
He also stressed on the need for the Federation of Union (FOU) to maintain close relation with the Central units of Agriculture for the success of the project.
In his address as chief guest of the inaugural function, Minister Y Erabot pointed out that Manipur is in 2nd position in terms of producing Cocoon in the North eastern region.
The climatic condition of Manipur is very suitable for activities related to Sericulture and it has been taken up successfully in different parts of the State.
However, in some places, it has been observed that the Government buildings meant for Sericulture activities are being misused and converting them into poultry farms, the Minister said, while noting that if the Sericulture project could be taken up successfully all over the State, there would be a significant improvement in the economic position of the people.
In his presidential address, MP Dr Meinya said that Sericulture project in Manipur had been almost written off at one time due to economic constraints.
But today, because of the hard work and dedication of some farmers, Sericulture project is developing and taking proper shape.
Still, we need to keep the pace of the progress moving faster and make use of the knowledge and experience gained in the days to come.
Manipur is one place where the farmers can successfully taken up lot of work in the field of Sericulture and the key to this success should be more research and development.