Imphal, May 29: Setting the target of producing 10 lakh silk (muga) cocoon this year officials and employees of Regional Tasar Research Station, located at Mantripukhri have begun to execute their respective assignments, said the Station Director Dr N Ibohal.

Interacting with media persons at his office chamber today Ibohal said hectic activity is underway at the Station farm as well as in other plantation areas spread across the State to meet the targeted quantity.

Most of the cocoons are to be produced by silk-worms that survives on leaves of locally available trees like �uyung� and �sayi� that are disease resistant and favorable for maximum harvest, detailed the Director adding plantations was previously planned at 40,000 hectare of land.

But the plantation programme had to be concentrated at only 20,000 hectares owing to various factors like withering of the trees due to ageing, natural phenomenon leading to decaying of the trees and leaves and law and order problem that has severely curtailed activities of the plantation workers.

Desiring proper attention and cooperation of State Government to endeavor of the Research Station, the director expressed confidence of providing jobs to substantial number of persons besides augmenting State income through export of the silk cocoons or its products.

Dr Ibohal also pointed out that the main priority of the Research Station is to ensure production of disease free cocoons and nurturing of �uyung� and �ayi� trees through conduct of awareness campaigns, training of farmers and sharing expertise with the farmers by the Station staffs.

Informing that cocoons produced in the State could be exported to Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh the director also said a single cocoon could provide 400-500 metre long silk thread with the final pro-duct rated among the best.

He further asserted that silk cocoon production farms have been established at Langol Hill range and Changoubok besides the Mantripukhri Centre while work at research extension centre at near Kangpokpi has already commenced.

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