Boko, Dec 16: Amid dip in production of muga silk cocoons posing a challenge to the golden silk industry in Assam, a government-run muga seed farm in Guwahati has offered a glimmer of hope.
The farm at Khanapara, Guwahati has successfully reared 500 grams of muga eggs on its premises during the current Katiya season.
“Based on the healthy growth and active development of these disease-free muga cocoons, it is expected that the farm will produce approximately 20,000 muga cocoons,” said Sujit Barman, a demonstrator at the government-run farm.
This is likely to reactivate the disrupted supply chain of muga cocoons, providing some relief to the struggling muga farmers and the industry as a whole, he added.
The premium muga silk, known as “Queen of Threads”, is deeply associated with Assamese culture and celebrated worldwide.
Predominantly limited to Brahmaputra Valley and foothills of adjacent hilly states, muga silk has successfully obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Assam’s favourable geographical environment and climate have naturally positioned it as the homeland of muga silk.
Enriched with traditional knowledge, some Assamese farmers have contributed to sustainable rural economic development through muga rearing and silk production.
However, Sujit Barman said, global warming and rapid climate change have cast a dark shadow over Assam’s muga industry.
Rising temperatures and sudden climatic shifts have severely disrupted muga cultivation, particularly during the Ahar (June-July), Bhada (August-September), and Ahin (September-October) seasons.
This year, excessive temperature increase has negatively impacted the supply chain for cocoons needed for commercial muga farming during the Kati (October-November) season.
As a result, many muga farmers have struggled to source sufficient muga cocoons for Katiya farming.
