Assam sericulture minister Pranati Phukan and agriculture minister Nilamani Sen Deka visit a stall at Muga Mela in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Oct. 30: Assam sericulture minister Pranati Phukan today said use of pesticides in tea gardens has affected rearing of muga in the state.

“Small tea growers are setting up new tea gardens in the state. They spray insecticides in the gardens which then spread to nearby muga-rearing areas killing the larva. We need a comprehensive study on the issue,” said Phukan.

Agriculture minister Nilamani Sen Deka, who was also present, inaugurated a function as part of Muga Day and a Muga Mela organised by state sericulture department at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra auditorium.

The muga fair will continue till Saturday.

This was the second Muga Day celebration by the sericulture department.

Phukan said they decided to hold the day in this month (October) as muga silk produced during this season is considered the best. “As muga silk produced in the month of kati is the best, so we decided to celebrate Muga Day on October 30 to promote muga rearing,” said Phukan.

He requested the Y-Gen to get involved in the muga industry. She said to promote sericulture in Assam, the state government last year set up a sericulture institute in Jorhat district, where classes have already begun.

“We have also started to reward muga cultivators from last year. It is an encouraging sign that production of muga started increasing from last year,” Phukan said.

Nine persons from across the state were given Rs 15,000 as financial assistance during the programme.

Production of muga yarn in Assam was 104 metric tonnes in 2012-13, 118 metric tonnes in 2013-14 and 49 metric tonnes till September in 2014-15. At present, price per kilogram of muga yarn varies from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000.

About 37,000 families in the state are engaged in rearing muga. Trees that provide food for muga larva covers an area of 10,168 hectares.

Phukan said the process of setting up a few ideal farms to promote sericulture was under way.

Deka said his department would provide all possible help to the sericulture department.

The joint secretary of the state sericulture department, Ajit Bordoloi, said during his visit to Sivasagar district, he received complaints from farmers that leaked oil from ONGC rigs has adversely affected muga.