Climatic variations have hit tassar cultivation in West Singhbhum

Chaibasa, Jan. 28: In an unprecedented development, unscheduled climatic variations have adversely affected commercial rearing of tassar in West Singhbhum.

Commercial tassar cultivation has suffered a serious setback in an area known for its non-mulberry sericulture. Around 60,000 families rear tassar in different parts of West Singhbhum.Villagers in the district rear tassar twice a year. Last year, the first phase ended in September. The second phase, which started on September 20, should have ended by December but it had to be stretched to the current calendar year due to unforeseen climatic variations.

Tassar cultivation used to take about 38-45 days but this time it has exceeded 100 days, said Ashish Chatterjee, executive of PRADAN, an NGO, which has helped tribal villagers grow tassar in Hatgamria, West Singhbhum, and Kuchai, Seraikela-Kharsawan.

“Tassar is so sensitive that the slightest change in temperature damages the pupa of silkworms. The temperature dipped considerably in the last few days of the previous year. Cyclonic rainfalls combined with mercury drop has aggravated the situation,” added Chatterjee.The executive said the worms shed their outer skin in intervals of three or four days. The untimely rainfall and temperature drop prevented them from shedding their skin on time. Hence, their cycle stretched from the normal period of 45 days.

An inhabitant of Tirilpi of Manjhgoan village, Pitambal Pingua, said the second phase has been hit by climatic changes.

Earlier, villagers used to grow grade-one cocoons but this time the quality has suffered. The farmers were left no option but to sell them at low prices. It has also made villagers give up tassar rearing. “The NGO has encouraged us to stick to tassar cultivation but there is no market for it, Pingua added.Hatgamaria and Kuchai blocks have the highest concentration of tassar cultivation. Sources added that commercial tassar growth has been hit in countryside. Tri-voltine sericulture has also been affected.

The Central Silk Board has been experimenting for more than two decades on tri-voltine sericulture but their efforts are yet to yield results.