Move to improve sericulture in Malda

Move to improve sericulture in Malda

By Manas R Bannerjee

Malda ( India) Aug. 3. — Following the direction of chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Webcon, a consultancy firm, has completed a two-day survey in Malda yesterday on the prospects and development of sericulture in the district. Officials said the Webcon team visited various sericulture industries here and prepared a project report. A 15-minute film will also be made and presented to the chief minister. After meeting higher officials another project plan will be prepared for the development of the industries with a view to competing with China and other countries in the export market. Senior sericulture officials here believe that with the introduction of modern technology, silk cultivators will be able to get rid of chemical fertilizers for producing mulberry leaves. The officials said extension of sericulture in the non-traditional blocks is balancing its growth. According to the officials, the directorate of state sericulture and central silk board have found out a new path to boost Malda sericulture and stressed the need to produce more and more Dupion, Coarser and Motka silk yarn.Recently, state and central officials held a meeting and a seminar here for its development and stressed the need to develop the sectors where the district can dominate the Indian market. The officials said that at a time when the silk producers are facing a financial crisis in adopting modern technology for producing fine silk yarn here, DCM [Dupion Coarser and Motka] is the best way to develop the silk industry here. The deputy director, Malda sericulture, Mr Bijan Mandal, said: “ Malda is dominating the Indian market of Dupion and Motka’’.