Sericulture affected after death of silkworms

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 29: - The Malda sericulture department has started survey to estimate loss after death of huge silkworms in particular areas of Kaliachak block I. The departmental officials are expecting that they would be able to complete the estimation of losses of sericulture farmers by 3 December. The sericulture farmers at Shershahi and Majampur areas have failed to produce cocoons due to sudden disease of silkworms. The deputy director of Malda sericulture Mr Bijan Mandal said: “Silkworms were suffering from infection due to lack of ignorance of farmers and lack of disinfection procedure in the rearing houses”. “Silkworm may be infected owing to climatic disorder for example high humidity and temperature”, Mr. Mandal said. According to him only the two zones Shershari and Majampur sericulture has been affected by infection problem but other areas rate of cocoon production is better. "We need to find out the cause of such diseases in this particular pockets”, the deputy director added. Both the central silk board and state sericulture officials denied allegation of the farmers that the poor quality of silkworm eggs were held responsible for this diseases. This year silk farmers had faced acute crisis of silkworm eggs at the initial stage and had to buy eggs from the private producers.