Rise in sericulture weaving in Meghalaya

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], July 6 (ANI): Sericulture weaving leads way to untapped potential of handlooms in Meghalaya. With favorable climatic conditions,Meghalaya is booming with great heights in the sericulture Sericulture farming in the state has taken a toll and weaving comes along with it and almost every household of the state has been inclined towards handloom weaving producing wide varieties of hand woven silk fabrics of ethic designs. Silk cultivation, rearing silkworms and sericulture weaving is the most important cottage based eco-friendly industry among the farmers of Meghalaya. Over the years sericulture and handloom weaving out of silk has remain a sustainable source of income for the village inhabitants. It portrays the cultural ethos and rich heritage of the people of the state. Women folk in far flung areas especially in the mawlong village in the Ribhoi district of the state have been involved in handloom activities and earning their livelihood since many decades. A weaver, Trenice, said she was privileged to have participated the training in the sericulture institute in Ummulong and that they received important and educative notes from the training. However, to encourage more women sericulturist of the region and to tap the handloom potential of the state various training programmes on improved method and technology of silk rearing and weaving is organized under the Intensive bivoltine sericulture development project. Research Extension centre central silk board of India, Shillong in collaboration with the District Sericulture office, West Jaintia Hills Jowai conduct the progarmme every year to mould the skills of the local weavers. Dr. Collen Z Ryngkhlei of Central silk board of India, Shillong, said under the scheme many components are covered by the ministry of textile central silk board. And the most crucial part was that the CHOKI rearing centre that has been set up for almost two years and in the centre and they can rear upto 5000 perp (DFL's) to be distributed to the farmers of the region. Under the project thousands of beneficiaries, including women are undergoing training facilities and they are working towards enhancing the growth of increase production of hand woven fabrics of ethnic designs in the state through their efficiency in weaving. Meghalaya is blessed with four different silkworm cultures such including Mulberry, Eri, Muga and Oak Tasar which can all be harvested successfully in the State. Moreover, various need based schemes such as Integrated Eri, Mulberry and Muga Development Program has been implemented under the initiative of Sericulture department of the state to boost the production of best quality handloom fabrics so as to promote the socio-economic upliftment of the local weavers. Such undertaking generates employment opportunities for the local weavers as well as upholds the silk tradition of the state. (ANI)