GUWAHATI, Feb 24 � The growing risks involved in farming muga, the unique organic silk of Assam, have made many farmers of this precious golden silk, to change over to rubber plantation. This development is particularly discernable in three Lower Assam districts.
While the trend has been assuming a general character among the muga farmers of Goalpara district, it is observed to be an emerging inclination among farmers of this silk variety in some parts of Kamrup and Kokrajhar districts.
Disclosing this, State�s Sericulture Department sources here told this newspaper that the rapid shrinkage in the muga growing areas in the State has been posing a serious threat to the industry.
To them, if immediate measures are not taken to address the risks involved in muga farming, this tendency among the farmers will create an insurmountable problem for the State�s sericulture sector in the coming days.
They said that the future of muga depends on the basic research followed by applied research. Our universities should play a big role in conducting basic research on this matchless silk yarn, they said.
It needs mention here that harsh weather is affecting production of muga. This condition has affected particularly the aharua (June-July) and bhadiya (August) seed crops of this silk variety. This, in turn, is adversely influencing the commercial production of this precious silk yarn.
This problem in muga production is essentially faced in the area of rearing the seed crops � specially the aharua and bhadiya. The other two muga crops � jethua (April-May) and katiya (October-November) in the cycle, are mainly grown for commercial purposes.
Faced with such a situation, muga farmers in some areas like in the Upper Assam districts, and in the districts of Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri, and in the southern part of Kamrup district, have started deferring the katiya crop period to the months of November and December.
The Sericulture Department is also encouraging such a shift in the muga crop cycle, considering changes in the atmosphere.
Considering the fact that the State is traditionally dominant in muga and eri sectors, as far as silk varieties are concerned, the State Government has concentrated more on these two varieties, which are also indigenous to the State. The State Government is now implementing various developmental schemes to assist the muga and eri farmers, the sources added.
It needs mention here that the State secured Geographical Indication (GI) rights over muga about three years back. This right is enforceable for a period of ten years.
But so far, the basic and applied research activities for promoting the farming of this unique silk and improving it as a formidable resource with the power to boost up the State economy has not been taken up by any quarters in a significant manner. This is despite the fact that this silk variety has the potential to play a vital role in the economy.
Significantly, the State Government has also not assigned these tasks to any of the agencies. The State is hence depending solely on the Central Silk Board for resolving all the problems faced by this sector.
GUWAHATI, Feb 24 � The growing risks involved in farming muga, the unique organic silk of Assam, have made many farmers of this precious golden silk, to change over to rubber plantation. This development is particularly discernable in three Lower Assam districts.
While the trend has been assuming a general character among the muga farmers of Goalpara district, it is observed to be an emerging inclination among farmers of this silk variety in some parts of Kamrup and Kokrajhar districts.
Disclosing this, State�s Sericulture Department sources here told this newspaper that the rapid shrinkage in the muga growing areas in the State has been posing a serious threat to the industry.
To them, if immediate measures are not taken to address the risks involved in muga farming, this tendency among the farmers will create an insurmountable problem for the State�s sericulture sector in the coming days.
They said that the future of muga depends on the basic research followed by applied research. Our universities should play a big role in conducting basic research on this matchless silk yarn, they said.
It needs mention here that harsh weather is affecting production of muga. This condition has affected particularly the aharua (June-July) and bhadiya (August) seed crops of this silk variety. This, in turn, is adversely influencing the commercial production of this precious silk yarn.
This problem in muga production is essentially faced in the area of rearing the seed crops � specially the aharua and bhadiya. The other two muga crops � jethua (April-May) and katiya (October-November) in the cycle, are mainly grown for commercial purposes.
Faced with such a situation, muga farmers in some areas like in the Upper Assam districts, and in the districts of Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri, and in the southern part of Kamrup district, have started deferring the katiya crop period to the months of November and December.
The Sericulture Department is also encouraging such a shift in the muga crop cycle, considering changes in the atmosphere.
Considering the fact that the State is traditionally dominant in muga and eri sectors, as far as silk varieties are concerned, the State Government has concentrated more on these two varieties, which are also indigenous to the State. The State Government is now implementing various developmental schemes to assist the muga and eri farmers, the sources added.
It needs mention here that the State secured Geographical Indication (GI) rights over muga about three years back. This right is enforceable for a period of ten years.
But so far, the basic and applied research activities for promoting the farming of this unique silk and improving it as a formidable resource with the power to boost up the State economy has not been taken up by any quarters in a significant manner. This is despite the fact that this silk variety has the potential to play a vital role in the economy.
Significantly, the State Government has also not assigned these tasks to any of the agencies. The State is hence depending solely on the Central Silk Board for resolving all the problems faced by this sector.
