India:Union ministry to support Manipur Sericulture Project
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PublishDate:
2006-10-08 15:57:00
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Kolkata: The union ministry of commerce, to market the value added silk products in both domestic and international markets has assured full support for the JBIC-aided Rs 490.59 crore Manipur Sericulture project, industry sources said here on October 05.
Mulberry silkworm rearing and reeling in Manipur is carried out in a limited way in the traditional villages such as Khurkhul, Leimaram, Phayeng and Thongjao; whereas Eri rearing and spinning is done particularly in the Wangoo and Sugunu areas.
The five year project is being executed in two phases, with the first envisaging an investment of Rs 134.52 crore and set for completion by March 31, 2008.
Further, current facility of airfreight subsidy of 90 percent up to Kolkata airport and 50 percent up to Delhi and Mumbai for all horticulture product exports from the North Eastern States will also be extended to silk exports from Manipur.
The union minister of state for commerce and industry, Mr Jairam Ramesh said that production of high quality bi-voltine silk in Manipur would fetch huge economic benefits for the state as the silk project is the best thing that has happened for the insurgency hit state.
The Phase-I of the sericulture project will also increase production level of mulberry silk from 46 tons to 150 tons and Eri silk from 160 to 168 tons besides providing self-employment to 30,720 persons.
Government is also in process of funding the proposed showroom in Varanasi for value-added silk products from Manipur.
He further informed that till end of August 2006 some 1,365 hectares of land have been brought under mulberry plantation, with the coverage of 814 FOUs (field operation units), against the target of 1,000 FOUs by 2007-08.
The implementation of silk project was based on the revised action plan prepared by the Central Silk Board (CSB) under the Union Ministry of Textiles, in close consultations with the officers of the Sericulture Department, Government of Manipur.