Meghalaya charts roadmap to develop West Khasi Hills as Muga seed cocoon hub

A district-level stakeholder consultation on Muga and Eri development was held at Riangdo in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills to formulate a scientific and sustainable roadmap for expanding sericulture under the Mera Resham Mera Abhimaan (MRMA) 2.0 programme, with a focus on rural livelihoods, entrepreneurship and employment generation.

The consultation, organised at Don Bosco Meeting Hall, was jointly conducted by the Central Silk Board's Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization (MESSO), P-4 Unit Mendipathar, and the District Sericulture Office, West Khasi Hills, under the Directorate of Sericulture, Government of Meghalaya.

The meeting was attended by Meghalaya Cabinet Minister and Mawshynrut MLA Methodius Dkhar, who participated as the chief guest. Officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, Forest, Rural Development, Sericulture and District Council departments, along with representatives of self-help groups (SHGs), farmer interest groups (FIGs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs), entrepreneurs, local institutions and the media, were present. Around 35 progressive farmers engaged in Muga, Eri and Mulberry cultivation across the district also participated in the consultation.

District Sericulture Officer P. Warjri coordinated the programme, while Mahasankar Majumdar, Scientist-C and In-charge of the Central Silk Board's MESSO P-4 Unit at Mendipathar, presented the proposed District Sericulture Development Plan under MRMA 2.0.

The proposed roadmap focuses on scientific Muga seed cocoon production through cluster-based plantation development, decentralised seed crop rearing, improved host plant management and scientific disease prevention. It also envisages convergence with government schemes, promotion of Eri value addition, and infrastructure development to strengthen the district's sericulture ecosystem.

Officials said the model seeks to reduce production risks by encouraging small, manageable Muga plantations and the transfer of scientific sericulture technologies to farmers. The approach is expected to improve productivity, enhance cocoon quality and create sustainable income opportunities for rural households.

Addressing the gathering, Dkhar welcomed the initiative of the Central Silk Board and the State Sericulture Department in preparing a comprehensive development roadmap for the sector. He emphasised the need to promote livelihood opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen infrastructure and develop market-oriented sericulture to improve the economic prospects of farming communities.

The Minister assured the government's support for measures aimed at strengthening the sericulture sector and creating sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for rural youth and women in West Khasi Hills.

During the consultation, experts highlighted the district's favourable climatic conditions for the production of Aherua and Bhodia Muga seed crops, noting that moderate temperatures contribute to higher silkworm survival rates and better cocoon quality. They observed that these natural advantages position West Khasi Hills to emerge as a major Muga seed cocoon production hub in Meghalaya.

The meeting concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to work in coordination for the sustainable development of Muga, Eri and Mulberry sericulture in the district under the MRMA 2.0 programme.