Kalimpong

The Centre and State Sericulture Department with the help of the local Vijay Rani Sericulture Club and Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG) organized a joint awareness programme on sericulture on the 6th of March 2007 at the Maria Basti community hall.

More than forty residents from the villages in and around Maria Basti, Middle Kange participated in the awareness programme. Resource persons included Dr. Mondol, a researcher and scientist from the central sericulture department, Dr. Thakur, a development officer from the state government, Mr. Surya Prasad Chettri (Extension Officer), Mr. S Rai (Asst. Extension Officer), Mr. K B Chettri and Mr. Phurba Sherpa.

The resource persons shared information regarding various government schemes to support rural sericulture, including disbursing of loans, construction of rearing houses and production of weaving materials.

Dr. Mondal emphasized that a farmer should have minimum 1000 bushes of Mulberry trees. He also emphasized on Munga (type of silk) culture as Kutmero (Litsea monopetala) is locally grown in the hills of North Bengal. The participants also visited the site where mulberry tree plantation had been initiated by Vijay Rani Sericulture Club and Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG).