GPRS-aided sericulture to begin soon in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 30:

The Odisha government is all set to develop sericulture farming through GPRS tracking method.

This was decided at a review meeting presided over by Textiles, Handloom and Handicraft minister Snehangini Chhuria here on Friday.

It was decided in the meeting that henceforth, detailed information on the maintenance and growth of Arjun and Asana trees for sericulture and the land where they have been planted, would be available from the GPRS tracking data to be provided by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Apart from this, the state government, would grow plants and later hand over the plants and the land patta to the farmers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Besides, the government would also provide financial assistance to the farmers for Mulberry cultivation on irrigated land and areas where the climate is favourable.

It was revealed that the farmers of the state are reluctant to take up sericulture as the Centre has made a stipulation of 70 percent share under Centrally sponsored programmes.

Considering the above, it was decided that the state government would request the Centre to reconsider its stipulation. If necessary, the state government would take a decision to provide financial assistance to the farmers under the State Plan.

Stating that sericulture has been found profitable in 14 districts, the minister asked the field officers to make efforts for its further growth and ensure financial assistance to the farmers at the earliest.

Among others, secretary, Textiles, Handloom and Handicraft Chitra Arugumam, director, Handloom, Debendra Prasad Das, managing director, Serifed, Susant Kumar Acharya, deputy director and assistant directors, Sericulture were present at the meeting.