Sericulture in Manipur

Sericulture plays a vital role in the improvement of economic conditions of the artisans of the Manipur state. It is an important labour-intensive and agro-based industry generating employment opportunities for the rural people with lowest investment cost. Sericulture has a long tradition and has been practised by the farmers from time immemorial but on a limited scale. But the sericulture industry was confined only in a few villages. Mulberry silk worm rearing and reeling was confined to four villages viz Khurkhul, Leimaram, Pheiyeng and Thongjao etc. whereas Eri silk rearing was conducted for domestic consumption by the womenfolk. Silk weaving industry was confined to another four villages viz. Chingmeirong Kabo Leikai, Thangmeiband, Awang Kongpal and Maibam Leikai only. And the sericulture industry has been extended to other villages and also to the hill districts of the state during the plan period.

During the Ninth Five Year Plan, the Department has implemented 13 plan schemes for the development of four varieties of silk worm i.e. Eri (feeds on castor leaves), Muga (feeds on Som & Soalu leaves), Oak Tasar (feeds on oak leaves) and Mulberry Silk (feeds on mulberry leaves), culture as a subsidiary occupation in the lower belt hill areas of the state. So far, under this scheme 25,486 hectares of land had been brought under plantation of silkworm Food Plants and 21,968 families had been engaged in sericulture industry. During the year 2006-2007, the estimated production of oak tasar cocoons was 65.94 lakhs cocoon for a value of Rs 46.16 lakhs as against the 31.75 lakhs cocoon for a value of Rs 22.23 lakhs in 2005-2006. Details of sericultural production is shown in table which is given below.

Sericultural production and value in respect of Manipur State:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

District-wise Sericultural Statistics of Manipur 2002-03 to 2005-06:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Manipur Sericulture Project:

During the Ninth Five Year Plan, the State Govt. had taken up a project entitled “Manipur Sericulture Project” with assistance from OECF (Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund) now renamed as JBIC, Japan in order to increase the annual production of silk yarn to the tune of 328 MT. Under this project, the advance technology and sophisticated machineries used in Japan could be transferred to India with a view to increase the production of raw silk in terms of both quality and quantity so as to meet the demand of international market. The project also envisage development of sericulture facilities covering (a) Construction of infrastructural facilities such as Seed Farm, Grainages, Research Station, District Storage and Cocoon marketing Centres, (b) Development of Plantation of Mulberry and Eri, (c) Construction of reeling and spinning facilities, twisting, etc. (d) Development of technical training centres for rendering technical assistance & training etc. The overall development plan on this project has been formulated including a total 2,720 hectares of Mulberry, 1,500 hectares of Eri and functioning all the necessary supporting facilities. The project has been implemented with an outlay of Rs. 490.59 crores since 20^th July, 1998, in two phases.

The Phase – 1, Manipur Sericulture Project was started with the employment of Project Consultant since June, 1998. The total outlay of this phase is Rs. 134.52 crores, of which, OECF project loan fund covers Rs. 116.19 crores (86.37 percent) and the remaining Rs. 18.33 crores (13.63 percent) is the state share. In this phase – 1 stage of implementation 1020 hectares in the mulberry sector and 200 hectares in the eri sector will be covered. The phase was expected to be completed by March, 2005.

The implementation of the phase – II was to commence from the 2002/2003 fiscal year subject to the successful implementation of phase – I stage development to cover 1700 hectares of mulberry and 1300 hectares in case of the eri sector.

Catalytic Development Programme (CDP):

With the help of the Central Silk Board, the State Government has implemented the CDP since 2003-04. The Central Silk Board has approved 23 micro-schemes for implementation in Manipur with an output of Rs. 228.04 lakhs during the Tenth Plan Period (2002-07). The number of beneficiaries and amount released under the schemes is shown at in the table below.

Physical and Financial Performance of the CDP in Manipur:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09