Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Silkworm hormone introduced in Gobichettipalayam

Staff Reporter

650 sericulture farmers have benefited since introduction; Karnataka, Tamil Nadu covered

ERODE: The Sericulture Department recently introduced a hormone for silkworm, JHA, in Gobichettipalayam, to boost cocoon production and help sericulture farmers get more revenue.

The Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore (CSRTI); Regional Sericultural Research Station, Salem, and the Sericulture Department jointly conducted a programme in which the president of SDS Biotech KK, Japan, Takashi Shirai, released the hormone. The hormone was developed in collaboration with CSRTI, Tokyo, University of Agriculture and Technology, and SDS Biotech KK, Japan, after research.

Successful

The product proved successful in field test. The JHA is considered yet another important component in the wide-acclaimed technology bouquet of CSRTI, Mysore. The Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, H. Bhasker, released a pamphlet on JHA - a synthetic analogue of insect juvenile hormone.

Heavier cocoon

On administration to fifth instar silkworm on the third day, JHA induces the silkworm to consume more mulberry leaves and build bigger and heavier cocoons.

The cocoon yield invariably increases, ranging from eight to 12 kg for a 100 Disease Free Layings (dfls). Apart from this, the price of the cocoons will go up by Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 a kg.

Consistency

Mr. Basker stated that since the introduction of the hormone in 2004, 650 sericulture farmers benefited. The Director of CSRTI, Mysore, S.B. Dandin, felt that if a single technology could ensure a consistent increase by ten per cent in the productivity, farmers could adopt it without reluctance.

A total of 21,000 dfls were treated with JHA, covering 141 farmers in 44 villages in areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in last eight months. The Director of Sericulture, S. Thangaswami; the Joint Director of Sericulture, G. Rajappa; the Assistant Directors of Sericulture, Erode and Thalawady, V. Kolappa Pillai and S. Raj; and T. Echigo and Prof K. Hamano, from Japan, spoke.

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