Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio visits the stalls at the state-level sericulture workshop cum exhibition in Dimapur on April 27. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur, April 27 (MExN): Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, at a state-level function today said that, Naga people must do away with the ‘dependency’ factor. Addressing a crowd of entrepreneurs at the state-level sericulture workshop cum exhibition in Dimapur today, the CM said the public depend too much on the government for growth and development. “Real development is individual development…the government may be rich but if the individual is not rich the society is not stable,” Rio said.
Rio said that dependency on the government has led to many problems. He pointed out that the government is only a facilitator and the public must break out of the mould of dependence. He lamented many people feel that the government must provide everything to the public. “Government is giving funds, assistance…the public should use it properly,” Rio said. He said that dependency has caused Naga society to remain a consumer state.
Rio further remarked that Naga people lack consistency in business and urged the entrepreneurs to leave a trademark in their line of work. “Pass on the business, the skills, the technology to your children,” Rio encouraged.
The CM lauded the efforts of the Department of Sericulture creating employment opportunities for the people of Nagaland. Rio emphasized the need for Naga people to grow into a producing society. He propagated the idea of ‘cluster approach’ for cultivation of cash crop which would improve the economic conditions of the rural people. Rio said that in order to make the products commercially more viable, the Department of Sericulture must build a system of cluster approach to meet the demands of the market. He also urged the department to protect the prices of raw materials and farmers from being exploited by middlemen.
Under the ‘year of entrepreneurship,’ the CM said the government is going to select 1000 genuine entrepreneurs across the state and support their businesses. He, therefore, encouraged entrepreneurs to be focused. Rio added that the Centre and the state government is also trying to promote Sericulture. “I want to see results in a few years…put Nagaland on the map as one of the silk producing states,” Rio said. The CM later inaugurated the exhibition stalls displaying an array of silk products.
Sericulture workshop for income generation
Dimapur, April 27 (MExN): The two day state-level workshop cum exhibition on Sericulture - under the year of entrepreneurship- began in Dimapur today. Apart from members of the Central Silk Board, entrepreneurs from all districts of Nagaland are also participating in the event. Providing the highlights of the event, Commissioner and Secretary for Sericulture, Thangi Manen, said that the objective of the workshop is mainly to create awareness on the potentials of sericulture as an income generating opportunity in the state. The programme will also highlight the department’s activities, while also disseminating information on technology in post-cocoon sector for product diversification and value addition. The workshop will also underscore the economics of silk rearing, spinning, dyeing, weaving and production of silk fabrics. Entrepreneurs will be taught to understand the market demand and supply.
Thangi Manen said the state currently holds 8145 acres of land under cultivation of the host plant. Approximately 10,000 families are engaged in sericulture, she informed. Manen said that cultivation is taking place mainly through central Silk Board, NABARD and state plan schemes. The state produces an annual average of 80 to 85 metric tons of cocoon, of which most are sold outside the state, Manen added.
The department is currently in the process of up grading weaving units with better technology for better products. The department, Manen informed, will also establish community spinning and weaving units in private sector for self employment. The department is also in the process of product development with designs inspired by Naga motifs. It is also experimenting on knitting and crocheting using Eri yarn.
Manen further said that sericulture has many economic aspects. It is an income generating activity, and the department’s motive is to encourage more people to take up Sericulture.