Bihar-Govt to Offer Advanced Technological Support to Farmers to Boost Sericulture

On Wednesday, To bring more farmers and entrepreneurs into the fold of sericulture and also to attain self-sufficiency in silk production, the Bihar government announced that farmers would be provided advanced technological support for increasing the productivity of cocoon and raw silk in the state.

The state government also announced that more farmers, who are engaged in sericulture, will be provided skills training and technical guidance in mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing and silk reeling activities.

Participating in the debate on the Industries department budget for 2023-24 in the state assembly, Bihar Industry minister Samir Kumar Mahaseth said, “The Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar has decided to provide advanced infrastructural facilities to farmers engaged in sericulture in the state. Around 5,277 farmers in Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul districts are already availing of facilities being provided by the department to increase the production of mulberry.

“Similarly, more than 300 farmers in Banka, Munger, Nawada, Kaimur and Jamui districts have been provided motorized spinning machines by the department”.

The government is motivating farmers and entrepreneurs to adopt improved technologies to bring down the production cost by increasing the production and productivity of quality cocoons and silk. In order to help farmers and provide them with raw materials throughout the year, the government has decided to establish ‘Cocoon Banks’ in the Banka district, the minister said.

Bihar has already received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for producing Bhagalpuri silk which helps in getting recognition for the product in the global market, he said. The Bhagalpur cluster also holds the second position in the production and export of silk in India, only after Karnataka.

There are three varieties of silk produced and woven in the state: Tassar, Eri and Mulberry. Tassar Silk of Bhagalpur and Banka is a special product of Bihar. Two districts –Banka and Jamui– are the major Tassar cocoon-producing districts of the state.

The minister also announced that in an attempt to provide impetus to domestically manufactured goods and employment opportunities to the people of the state, the Industries department has directed all state-controlled bodies to accord priority and price preference in government procurement to products manufactured by industrial units located within the state.

The department has directed that the existing state’s ‘Purchase Preference Policy-2002’ and ‘The Bihar Finance (Amendment) Rules, 2005’ should be strictly followed and ‘purchase preference must be given to domestic manufacturers and suppliers in government procurement.

The assembly passed the Industries department’s budget (of Rs 1648.81 crore) for the year 2023-24 by voice vote.

-With PTI Inputs

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