Bastar’s farmers are now getting a lesson in entrepreneurship to improve their financial condition and expose themselves to modern methods of Tussar silk culture in the insurgency infested region. A total of 24 farmers in Bastar division were provided training on entrepreneurship development and consequent employment generation by Central Tussar Research Centre of the Central Silk Board here recently.
The farmers who underwent training were from Tokapal, Bastar and lohandiguda development blocks. Centre’s Joint Director and Scientist Dr J P Mahobia said that Tussar silk culture is the cottage industry for the tribals living near forest areas. The established traditional methods of Tussar silk culture, limited usage of pesticides has weakened the financial status of the tribals, he said. It is therefore necessary that the tribals be taught modern methods of Tussar culture.
Notably, Chhattisgarh now has as many as 151 Tussar silk project centres funded by the Japanese Government operating in the State, officials informed. Tussar silk plantation had been taken up in 2980 hectares under Japan aided Tussar Project, they stated. Moreover, under the Tussar Silk Development and Expansion Scheme of State Government’s Rural Industry Department, nearly 1.2 lakh beneficiaries have been benefited during the previous financial year 2013-14.
Nearly 26.31 crore units of Kosa were produced in the previous year and total 394 metric tonnes of threads were produced from these Kosa fruits. Around Rs19.21 crore have been spent on this scheme. Department officials informed that the total Kosa produced last year includes 5.83 crore units of Tussar cocoon and 20.48 lakh units of natural Kosa.
Presently, total 139 Tussar centres are operating in the State, which includes 43 pilot project, 84 other Tussar centres and 12 Kosa seed centres. Under this scheme, nearly 11,656 hectare area is available for Tussar plantation, including 3276.50 hectare under departmental centres, 1291.50 hectares under MNREGS, 4801 hectares under natural forest areas.
This apart, silk farming as become an additional source of income for many farmers of Bastar district. Abundant production of Tasar Kosa cocoons has been taken up in the natural Saal forests of the district. Besides, Shahtuti silk is cultivated in the villages. The Silk Directorate has been providing jobs to 300 families, working as various self-help groups (SHGs), in the Tussar Seed Production Centre, in Chapka village of the district.
Every year, about 12 lakh Tussar (Kosa) silk cocoons are bred on Arjun trees in the 68-hectare area of the Tussar Seed Production Centre. With this, beneficiaries of 60 families get additional income of about Rs24,000. Besides, about 250 other families are linked with this Tussar Seed Production Centre, which take seeds from the Centre and cultivate Kosa cocoons on the natural Saal forests.
The Silk Directorate operates Cocoon Bank and Silk Kosa Threading Centre in Dharampur village of Bastar district. A total of 30 machines were installed at the Centre for Kosa threading, on which 28 beneficiaries are working. In another Centre, silk thread production works are done through ‘Matka Pulling System’, in which 22 beneficiaries are working. As such, the Centre has become bread-earner for 50 families.
In 2010-11, the officers of Silk Directorate, by organising awareness camps in villages, had imparted training to the villagers in producing ‘Raily Kosa’. Thereafter, by launching a campaign with the assistance of the villagers, 25 lakh butterflies were released in Saal forests. As a result, 7.10 crore ‘Raily Kosa’ were produced in 2011-12 and 7.20 crore in the year 2012-13.
This apart, the Chhattisgarh Government has plans of massively increasing production of Kosa-Silk with a view to providing employment to people residing in rural pockets of the State. Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand has written letters to all district collectors in this regard, officials stated.
A Committee would be formed in every district for implementation of the plan. The Chief Secretary stated that priority should be given to plantation of Kauha ( Arjun) and Saja saplings for promoting Kosa-Silk production.
He said the officials must identify nurseries in advance for proposed plantations during the forthcoming monsoon season. Dhand said that Kosa-Cocoon production would be profitable when the training for threads and weaving is given at the site of Kosa production.
The Chhattisgarh Government is drawing up an elaborate five-year plan for promotion of Kosa and Silk production in the State. The move aims at providing livelihood to the rural people. Dhand has already written a letter to all district collectors while directing them to prepare a report on production prospects of Kosa and Silk in their respective regions.
He also directed to constitute district-level a Committee comprising of Panchayat Chief Executive Officer, District Forest Officer, District Silk Officer, Gramudhoy Officer, District Manager( Industry), Agriculture Department officer and officials of banks. The Chief Secretary has directed the officials to promote plantation of Kosa saplings and select location for the nurseries.
Besides this, State Horticulture Department on the regular basis will host technical and training programme for the persons involved in the Kosa and Silk trade. He also directed to constitute women self help groups (SHGs) under National Rural livelihood Mission to promote production Kosa and Silk in the State.