The report “Repeated failure of muga crops hits farmers” written by Ajit Patowary, has attracted the attention of the Central Silk Board. The Board is mainly operating on technological upgradation through research, implementation of developmental schemes through state government and production of basic seeds for development of sericulture in the region. As far as muga silkworm seed production is concerned, Central Silk Board through its one wing Muga Silkworm Seed Organization (MSSO), Guwahati is producing muga silkworm basic seed, which are supplied mainly to state Sericulture departments of North East states and few other private agencies. For production of these, CSB has well maintained seed farms located in Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. CSB has a target to produce and supply only 1.5 to 2.0 lakh basic seed annually against which it has achieved 80 to more than 100% (except during 2007-08 achieving 50% only) over the last ten years depending upon the demand.
CSB has a set of seed rearers from which seed cocoons are purchased for processing under this programme. In addition to this, CSB has one small centre as a model grainage for production of eighty thousand to one lakh commercial seed against the present production of nearly 100 lakh muga seed. Hence, to say the failure of whole muga crops due to CSB whose contribution for commercial seed is only 1% would be highly illogical. Further, against the presumption that farmers are reluctant to accept seeds from CSB source, the centre is getting huge demand with advanced payment which is beyond its scope to produce.
Traditionally the muga seed is produced by the muga farmers and still they are the bulk producers in addition to production of certain quantity by the state sericulture department. The intervention of CSB in sericulture started with R&D support in seventies and it is encouraging to note that there is visible growth in muga silk production in post seventy periods for which credit also goes to farmers and Department of Sericulture
However, muga silk production always remain below requirement, mainly due to some inherent problems. The growing demand of muga silk in national and international markets is boon for the muga farmers, for which muga cocoons are sold at remunerative price and drastically reduced the exploitation by the so called middle man.
It is for information that muga seed production is the most complicated component of the industry and several factors play important part in success or failure of the crops. Muga silkworm is a single race, having narrow genetic diversity, thereby having limited scope for isolation of promising race and hybridization to increase its productivity like in other sectors. Apart from this the muga silkworm is highly sensitive to adverse climatic conditions. Since muga worm is reared out door, it is exposed to vagaries of nature like both biotic and abiotic factors. Furthermore, since 5 to 6 crops are reared round the year good crops can be obtained in two congenial seasons, which are known as Kotia and Jethua commercial and rest are considered as seed crops which fall in adverse season mainly in June-July (Aherua) and August-September (Bhodia) which are linked to Kotia commercial and November-December-January (Jarua) and February-March (Chotua) crops linked to Jethua commercial. For success of these seed crops following steps need to be adopted: Rearing of disease free, healthy, disinfected seed obtained through mother moth examination, Ad option of plantation management technology to ensure nutritive foliage, Adoption of rearing management technology through disinfection and rationilise rearing, Region wise suitable season specific. rearing.
Following these basic principles and good management could ensure better crop harvest, thus Central Silk Board could achieve average production ratio of 1:10 against average 1: 5 Dfl:Dfl ratio in seed crops. Hence, it is highly essential to adopt comprehensive package of practices for improving the muga crop performance. The essentiality of such practices is must for pre seed and seed crops rearing to combat the adverse conditions. For achieving the huge demand for requirement of muga commercial seed meticulous planning is necessary for increasing the rearing quantum of pre seed and seed crops and to make them success. Since bulk quantity of seed is still produced by farmers multiplying the pre seed and seed crops, mostly through traditional way without adopting prescribed scientifically developed methodologies production always remain low.
It is pertinent to mention that muga crops suffered mainly due to “pebrine” disease caused by protozoa and flacherie caused by bacteria. Hence, it is essential to use disease free seeds, maintain healthy nutritive foliage and disinfection of rearing site. Since, muga silkworm is not having adequate defensive mechanism to fight against diseases or extremes of climate, it is important to provide congenial conditions for rearing. Indiscriminate use of seed having disease contamination, non adoption of disinfection procedure lead to increase in pathogen load in field causing large scale mortality particularly in adverse climatic condition.
It is also seen that in spite of taking all the care sometimes muga crops failed because of extreme climate, pollution and pest predator attack. Therefore it is advisable to select season specific area for seed crops. It is also seen that during the last two years there was set back in muga production across the region which can be mainly attributed to global warming. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reported that more than 7000 species in the world are likely to be particularly susceptible to climate change and the global warming is a great threat for live stock and flora and even to those who have strong adaptation or protection support developed through world wide research, while muga silkworm, one of the primitive silkworm species, is having least defensive mechanism to combat these adversities. By adopting the above technologies and preventive measures only there is scope for better crop harvest provided the climatic conditions remain within tolerable limit. Since most of the farmers are still reluctant to carry out the prescribed methodology, the pathogen load is increasing in the field and infecting the larvae for which no control measure is available.
The Central Silk Board is providing huge financial support under number of developmental schemes implemented by the Department of Sericulture of respective states of North Eastern Region. The schemes are linked to quality production with support to farmers, for raising and maintenance of plantation, improved rearing technology, quality seed production through private graineurs, improve reeling and spinning. product development/diversification, marketing and training on these aspects under HRD. One can obtain details about these either from CSB, Guwahati or Department of Sericulture for appropriate support. In addition, financial assistance is also provided to improve infrastructural support to state Sericulture Department. Central Silk Board’s role is limited mainly to develop technology and percolate through state Department, coordinating developmental programmes with state department and to produce basic muga seed. While carrying out these activities Central Silk Board is associated with only few farmers located in different areas for field trials, demonstration etc, where mostly effective outcome could be noticed. Since Central Silk Board is not executing the extension services and bulk production of muga seed, the issues like depriving farmers or failure of crops are to be looked into a broader perspective. Instead of playing blame game, the authorities should take appropriate strategy to bring the muga industry back to the track. (The writers are scientists with Central Silk Board)
