Nongpoh, July 21: In a bid to revive and modernise Meghalaya’s Muga silk sector, the Central Silk Board (CSB) on Tuesday launched a week-long skill development programme to train 60 Muga farmers in scientific rearing techniques, while also releasing a bilingual field guide aimed at improving cocoon productivity and farm incomes.
The training programme, organised by the Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization (MESSO), P-3 Unit at Nongpoh under the Ministry of Textiles, will be conducted in two batches and will benefit farmers from Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills. It focuses on scientific Muga rearing, grainage operations, disease and pest management, and sustainable cultivation practices.
Inaugurating the programme, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Abhishek Saini said scientific training and technology transfer were critical to improving cocoon yields and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers. He urged participants to adopt modern rearing practices and called for closer coordination between the State Sericulture Department and the Central Silk Board to strengthen institutional support and improve market linkages for Muga growers.
A key highlight of the event was the release of a bilingual (English-Khasi) handbook, Scientific Methods of Muga Rearing, designed as a practical guide for farmers. The publication covers the use of modern rearing equipment, host plant management, scientific silkworm rearing, and pest and disease control, making technical knowledge more accessible to local growers.
CSB scientist and P-3 Unit in-charge Dipankar Brahma said the programme aims to encourage farmers to adopt improved and sustainable Muga cultivation practices that can enhance cocoon production and raise annual incomes.
Participants also toured a live sericulture exhibition displaying Muga host plant saplings, silkworm larvae, cocoons of different silk varieties, silk yarn and scientific rearing equipment. The exhibition provided hands-on exposure to the entire Muga value chain—from plantation and silkworm rearing to cocoon production—while showcasing technologies that can improve productivity and sustainability.
Established in 1986, the CSB-MESSO P-3 Unit at Nongpoh serves as the region’s primary producer of quality disease-free Muga silkworm seed, supplying planting material to sericulture departments and farmers across Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, West Bengal and other parts of the country.
