Shillong, Aug 5: The Central Silk Board (CSB) has launched a nationwide initiative titled, “Mera Resham Mera Abhiman”, aimed at promoting sericulture technology transfer and farmer empowerment across 100 selected districts in India.
Among these, Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya has been identified as a key region, owing to its significant contribution of nearly 200 metric tonnes (MT) of raw silk annually, making it a vital hub in the state silk production landscape.
As part of this campaign, the CSB, Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization (MESSO), P-3 Unit, Nongpoh in collaboration with the District Sericulture Office, organised a comprehensive farmers training programme at Diwon village, a prominent Eri silk village in Ri-Bhoi.
The event witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 82 Eri silkworm rearers, who braved continuous heavy rainfall to attend, reflecting their strong commitment to improving sericulture practices.
The training programme, coordinated by Abhishek Singh, Scientist-C, CSB, MESSO, focused on key areas of scientific knowledge transfer. Topics included improved Eri silkworm rearing techniques, systematic host plant management, and cost-effective disinfection methods to prevent disease outbreaks which are essential for enhancing silk yield and ensuring long-term sustainability.
To make the training accessible and locally relevant, a technology booklet in the Khasi language was released and distributed among the participants. The booklet offers easy-to-follow guidelines, best practices, and location-specific insights on Eri silk farming, enabling farmers to implement scientific methods independently and effectively.
This initiative not only strengthened the technical capacity of Eri farmers but also instilled confidence and fostered a sense of unity among the rural sericulture community.
The CSB’s targeted efforts in Ri-Bhoi are expected to significantly boost raw silk production in Meghalaya and serve as a model for sericulture development in other parts of the country.
