Imphal, March 27: Regional Tasar Research Centre at Mantripukhri which is under Central Silk Board , Ministry of Textiles Govt of India organised a one-day Oak Tasar Krishi Mela at Gandhi Memorial Hall here today.

Governor Dr SS Sidhu inaugurated the mela as chief guest.

Sericulture Minister N Mangi Singh and Director (Technical), Central Silk Board, Bangalore B Saratchandra graced the function as president and guest of honour.

In his address, Dr Sidhu said Sericulture industry, be it Tasar, Mulberry, Eri and Muga, is a labour intensive agro-based industries which generates large employment opportunities for the rural people with lowest investment cost.

Governor observed that in Manipur Sericulture has a long tradition and has been practised by the farmers from time immemorial, though in a limited scale.

Mulberry silkworm rearing and reeling was confined to four villages, namely Khurkhul, Leimaram, Pheiyeng and Thongjao whereas a few womenfolks conducted Eri silkworm rearing for domestic consumption.

In view of the suitable agro-climatic conditions for rearing of silkworms, the Government of Manipur included a small Sericulture Scheme (plan) under the Department of Industry to enable to initiate Sericulture Industry in the State during the Fourth Five Year Plan.

By the Fifth Five Year Plan, the State Government with the support of the Central Silk Board had started promoting Sericulture by introducing Oak Tasar during 1974 to 1979 seeking to increase employment opportunities and the income of the people.

The Governor further pointed out that since Oak is grown wild in the hills of Manipur and Tasar can provide employment opportunities in the interior hill areas.

He also presented award to three Silkworm farmers who produced the largest quantity of cocoons besides releasing a booklet entitled New Technology of Oak Tasar Culture.

In his presidential address, N Mangi Singh said the Indo-Japan Sericulture project being launched in Manipur with funding from Japan Bank of International Corporation would be fully operational by 2008. As part of the project, a sum of Rs 38.80 crores has been sanctioned to NBCC for construction of Pre-Fabrication Rearing Houses at Sangaipat.

The foundation stone would be laid next month, the Minister said, adding that the delayed in taking up the project due to law and order condition would not happen again.

Transparency would be maintained in the implementation of the project, which would be able to provide job opportunities to over 30,000 people, the Minister assured.

Sericulture is the only industries through which the economy of the State could be augmented, and the successful implementation of the project would ensure that Manipur is next to Karnataka in terms of Sericulture industries in India.

A technical session attended by many experts and farmers was also organised as part of the mela during which the participants deliberated on the methods and technics of rearing silk worm.

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