A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: The muga cultivators under Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district have once again faced with severe problems due to unexpected death of thousands of matured muga silk worms, locally known as Jethua Muga and Bor Muga.
As per information found, the muga silk worms of the current season have met with untimely death at the time of being matured in the muga chomanis (Chom tree plantation area for muga rearing) located at different places under the subdivision. But the reason of the death of the muga silk worms can still not be ascertained. The phenomenon has caused grief to hundreds muga cultivators under Dhakuakhana, which is called as the ‘Land of Golden Thread’.
“The muga silk worms seem healthy at the growing period before they become matured. But at the time when they start to be matured, they are dying due to unknown reason,” stated a section of muga cultivators of Kamar Gaon in front of media persons.
These cultivators collected per thousand muga seeds from different distant places under Northeast Region at the cost of rupees six thousand to seven thousand. Despite such circumstances, most of them could not produce at least one thousand muga cocoons till date and they have suffered massive loss. However, no officials from the Sericulture Department under the Government of Assam has met the muga cultivators and visited the muga chomanis which are under threat till date.
Notably, the North Eastern Region of the nation is enriched with sericulture bio-diversity and the place is believed to be the origin of Antheraea species in the world. Muga silk is produced by a worm of Antheraea Assama species which is available only in North Eastern India. The intensive cultivation of this worm is found in the Brahmaputra valley of the State. Lakhimpur district in general and Dhakuakhona sub division in special is the traditional muga growing area in the world. As per report there are 10,000 traditional muga cultivators in the sub division who are actively involved in this culture covering an area of about 1600 hectares land with Muga food plants. In most cases these cultivators are not integrated regarding muga production but they have conserved the culture and respective bio-resources through interlinking it with their crop cycle since the time immemorial.
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