Nongpoh, August 20 : As part of the ongoing “Mera Resham Mera Abhimaan” (MRMA) campaign of the Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, a Training Programme on Host Plant and Disease Management was successfully conducted at Bhoirymbong, Ri-Bhoi district. The programme, organized jointly by CSB-MESSO (Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization), P-3 Unit, Nongpoh, and the District Sericulture Office, Ri-Bhoi, witnessed the active participation of 123 sericulture farmers from the region.
The programme was chaired by R.B. Lyngwa, District Sericulture Officer, Ri-Bhoi, who praised the joint efforts of the Central Silk Board and the State Sericulture Department in promoting capacity building at the grassroots level. She stressed the district’s potential for sustainable sericulture development, urging farmers to adopt modern rearing practices for higher productivity and income.
The technical sessions were led by Abhishek Singh, Scientist-C, CSB-MESSO, Nongpoh, who underlined the importance of scientific techniques in Eri silkworm rearing. He encouraged farmers to increase their DFLs rearing capacity and undertake multiple rearings annually, positioning sericulture as a profitable livelihood option. Supporting the discussions, L. Rympei, Sericulture Inspector, Ri-Bhoi, elaborated on improved rearing methods and their socio-economic benefits.
The programme featured an interactive session, where farmers raised concerns on pest control, disease prevention, and host plant management. Experts offered practical solutions and promised continued technical support.
Additionally, T. S. Rympai, Pynlang Rymbai, and Watklet Nongrum, Sericulture Demonstrators, motivated farmers to actively benefit from trainings, demonstrations, and field visits under the MRMA campaign. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by P. Rymbai, who acknowledged the cooperation of all stakeholders and the farmers’ enthusiastic involvement.
The initiative not only enhanced technical skills but also strengthened community spirit among Eri farmers. The high turnout reflects the determination of Ri-Bhoi’s farmers to embrace modern sericulture technologies. With the Central Silk Board’s targeted interventions under MRMA, raw silk production in Meghalaya is expected to receive a significant boost, creating a model for sericulture development across India.
