About 2,500 metric tonnes of ‘Kosa Raw Silk’ had been targetted to be produced in Chhattisgarh in the current financial year.The produce would be sold both in the domestic and international markets, officials informed.The Chhattisgarh government is already in the process of preparing an action plan titled ‘ Tussar Resham Vision 2020-21’ to augment silk production.
As per the action plan, both the State Forest Department and Village Industries Department would plant Kosa saplings in 50,000 hectares of land during the coming years. In March this year the Chhattisgarh government drew up plans to massively increase production of Kosa-Silk with a view to providing employment to people residing in rural pockets of the State.
Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand wrote letters to all district collectors in this regard, officials stated.The Chief Secretary stated in the letter 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.It may be mentioned that Chhattisgarh now has one ‘Raw Material Bank’ for Tussar silk established in Raigarh district, according to the 2013-14 annual report of the Union Ministry of Textiles.
The primary objective of the ‘Raw Material Bank’ is to ensure economic and fair price for the primary Tussar Silk growers, it stated.In Chhattisgarh, Silk farming as become an additional source of income for the farmers of insurgency infested Bastar district, officials informed.
Taking benefit of the silk development schemes of the Village Industries Department of the State government, the villagers of the district have proved it by their hard work, officials stated.Abundant production of Tussar 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 districtEvery year, about 12 lakh Tussar (Kosa) silk cocoons bred on Arjun trees in the 68-hectare area of the Tasar Seed Production Centre.
With this, beneficiaries of 60 families get additional income of about Rs 24,000. Besides, about 250 other families are linked with this Tassar Seed Production Centre, which take seeds from here and cultivates kosa cocoons on the natural Saal forests.
Arjun saplings were planted in the 10-acre land of Silk Directorate in Bade Garvand village, in which the self-help group (SHG) Ma Vamandei Kosa Krimi Palan had been farming Tasar Kosa. The Silk Centre operated in Bade Marenga village of the district is also playing an important role in making villagers self-reliant economically.
In 30-acre land of this Centre, which is about 20 years old, about half-a-dozen women self-help groups have been farming silkworm on the Shahtut plants. Every year Mulberry silk cocoons worth Rs 7.5 lakh are prepared here. This amount is deposited directly in the account of women self-help groups. 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 organizing 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
Abundant production of Tussar Kosa cocoons has been taken up in the natural Saal forests of the district. Besides, Shahtuti silk is cultivated in the villages. Every year, about 12 lakh Tussar (Kosa) silk cocoons bred on Arjun trees in the 68-hectare area of the Tasar Seed Production Centre. Moreover, 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 Silk Project, they stated.Moreover, under the Tussar Silk Development and Expansion Scheme of Chhattisgarh 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 Rs 19.21 crore have been spent on this scheme.
Department officials informed that the total Kosa produced last year includes 5.83 crore units of Tassar 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.
The Centre has appreciated the efforts made by Chhattisgarh government in increasing the production of raw Tussar silk.State Village Industries Department officials informed that the beneficiaries were provided required materials worth Rs 27,120 for plantation on private land, along with the free of cost technical assistance.About 1804 acres of land is available under Silk Development and Expansion scheme, out of which 635 acres is suitable for plantation.
Presently, 73 silk centres, three Mulberry grainage, five reeling units, five twisting units, one Research Centre and 10 cocoon banks and four yarn banks are operating in the State.Nearly 66,278 kgs of mulberry cocoons have been produced in the previous 2014-15, under Mulberry Silk Development and Expansion Scheme of State Government's Rural Industry Department, officials informed. The move benefitted as many as 3,457 beneficiaries.
Department officials informed that 74 centres are operating in the State under Mulberry Development and Expansion Scheme, wherein plantation of mulberry saplings on area of 696 acres is in progress.Mulberry saplings have also been planted on 60 acres of private land, under the scheme. Beneficiaries are provided necessary aid and guidance for plantation of saplings on private land.Officials further informed that presently, there are eleven banks and four yarn banks in the State, through which mulberry cocoon is procured.