‘Cocoon mela cum cocoon grading’ awareness at Mkg

‘Cocoon Mela cum Cocoon Grading’ awareness program was held today here at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex. 

The program was organized by the department of Sericulture Mokokchung and was graced by ADC (Hq) Mokokchung, Bendanglila NCS as the chief guest. 

Speaking on the occasion, Bendanglila encouraged the farmers to be consistent and be focussed in whatever farming activities they take up. She also discouraged the idea of kitchen garden and advised to start focussing on large scale production of goods. Commenting on the prospects of large scale production in pupa and cocoon farming, the chief guest exuded her confidence that if a farmer gave full time, the harvest would be bigger and the benefits higher. 

She also requested the department to construct a multi-purpose marketing shed especially for the farmers to sell their produce as ‘pupas’ were in high demand and people consumed it as delicacy. She further expressed her hope that with good impetus and proper guidance from the department, farmers would definitely reap the harvest even in the days to come.

A short speech was delivered by deputy director, directorate of Sericulture, Mhathung Kikon. In his address, he highlighted the various programs and schemes being implemented by the department. Calling upon the farmers to extend their co-operation and support to the department in the implementation of these programs, he said that cocoon production in the state was increasing by the year. 

He however acknowledged that the department does not have proper marketing linkage thus depriving the farmers of their fair price. He also cautioned the farmers against middlemen who through their scrupulous activities discriminate the farmers. The deputy director further stated that the department was thinking of organizing such melas in block wise in the future. 

Earlier, in the program, the key note address was delivered by District Sericulture Officer Mokokchung, Alemkumzuk. About 100 farmers participated in the mela whereby the department bought the cocoons from the farmers.