The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 18 lakh mulberry saplings ready for distribution

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Thursday, Apr 28, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

18 lakh mulberry saplings ready for distribution

K. Raju

Farmers are capitalising on early showers in Theni district

— file photo.

CONDUCIVE CLIMATE:A view of silk worms and mulberry leaves.

THENI: Even as summer shower brings hope and signals threat simultaneously to different sections of farmers in the district, some farmers have started capitalising on the early showers effectively.

Sericulturists having mulberry plantations are one such group.

Normally, farmers go for mulberry plants, main feed to silk worms, during the first week of June after the commencement of the southwest monsoon.

They leave the field barren during May.

But, they have started preparing the field to sow saplings one month in advance expecting continuous rain the following month also.

Sericulture officials have already expedited their work to meet the demands of mulberry growers.

Now, government sericulture farms are busy raising mulberry saplings.

The officials hope that the enthusiasm shown by farmers will ultimately increase the area under cultivation by at least 50 per cent of the exiting area.

At present, the area under cultivation in the district is around 1,600 acres, mostly at villages in and around Theni union.

The Department of Sericulture has kept 18 lakh saplings ready for distribution to farmers.

Talking to The Hindu, Assistant Director of Sericulture P.D. Mohan said that early commencement of agriculture activities will help increase the production also.

“We expect that farmers will start planting mulberry saplings during the first week of May. Anticipating the huge demand, we have been expanding our activities ranging from raising the saplings to procuring other inputs.

Motivation

Motivating farmers to expand the area and increase the production is also on. Effective motivation will rope in more farmers in sericulture.”

Cocoons

The district had produced 1.05 lakh kg of cocoons last year. It registered 30 per cent growth last year compared to the previous year.

“We anticipate at least 50,000 kg of cocoon this season in addition to the existing production of one lakh kg. Farmers are encouraged to produce white cocoon that are in great demand throughout the country,” he added.

Despite a massive production and abundant enthusiasm, farmers have been facing difficulty in marketing their products.

They have to transport the entire production either to Salem or to Coimbatore districts to sell them in the wholesale cocoon market.

With no marketing base in southern districts, farmers have to shell out a sizable amount for freight charges alone.

Setting up of marketing network or establishing a weekly market or procurement centre for cocoon will not only save money and time but also increase their profit margin, appealed farmers.

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