Future of Muga

Assam is the natural home for all the four varieties of silkworms – Eri, Muga, Mulberry and Tasar. The state also accounts for the highest production of muga and eri in the country. It is a matter of pride that Assam also enjoys a global monopoly in muga production; the state produces 87% of India's production and holds the 'Geographical Indication (GI). Muga silk is an exclusive contribution of Assam to .the world of sericulture and textiles. The texture and durability of this unique golden silk have attracted global attention for several centuries. Muga had put Assam on the famous silk route and had thus attracted traders from far and wide to this land. But its cultivation and production have remained confined to the traditional system, which has prevented the muga-based economy from growing. The government had, over the years, set up as many as13 muga seed farms across ten districts to produce basic muga seed cocoons to cater to the need of commercial rearers, apart from 14 muga reeling units in seven districts. The Government of India had, under an umbrella scheme called "North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme" launched an ambitious Integrated Sericulture Development Project for muga in 2014-15 in Kamrup, Cachar, Golaghat and Lakhimpur covering over 600 beneficiaries. The objectives of this scheme were (i) revival, expansion and diversification of sericulture in the state with special emphasis on muga silk, (ii) improving productivity and quality at all levels starting from cocoon production to fabric production through skill up-gradation and integrated extension support, (ii) horizontal expansion of food plants with an improved package of practices with the convergence of MGNREGA, (iv) generating income of the target groups through muga, and (v) creating sustainable livelihood for the villagers traditionally working on muga. This scheme was also supposed to have extended support for raising15 muga Kisan nurseries, provided assistance for raising 600 muga food plantations, provided assistance to 1,600 farmers for maintenance of muga host plantations for 3 years, extended assistance to 500 adopted muga seed rearers, provided assistance to 600 muga rearers for startup tools, and helped in the construction of 1100 mountage halls for muga farmers. Muga culture involves a series of activities – growing of food plants, rearing of muga silkworms, reeling of cocoons, twisting, weaving and marketing of various value-added products and services, etc. In order to meet the new varieties of som and soalu silkworm, to suit various agro-climatic conditions and to increase productivity, quality and profitability of muga culture, the Government of Assam had also established a Muga Research Sub-Station at Dakuakhana for conducting research work related to muga culture. It is for the new government to take a call on the exact status of the above-mentioned schemes, and to find out how much of the funds have been spent on unproductive activities. According to the Government of Assam, the state had produced 587.47 metric tonnes of muga silk between 2011 and 2016, which works out to about 98 metric tonnes per annum. In 2019, the Government of Assam had launched an ambitious project called 'Assam Silk Outreach Mission' for taking muga raw silk production up by 10 times in the next 10 years. It will be important to take stock of how much the production has gone up in the past two years. The newly-elected MLAs in whose districts people cultivate and produce muga should also take stock of the working of the schemes and projects related to muga. It is also important to put on record that the Government of Assam had, several years ago earmarked 70 village grazing reserves (VGRs) across 25 districts covering a little over 1,400 hectares of land for use for muga rearing by the landless villagers. Of this area, about 90 hectares are in the Sixth Schedule areas of BTR, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. But in reality, a sizable portion of these VGRs, which were the cradle of the muga heritage of Assam, has been systematically encroached by the illegal migrants, thus causing irreparable harm to the state. The biggest question however is that while muga is silk unique to Assam, why has the state failed to create a global niche for this golden silk? Is it because of lack of foresight, or because of lack of interest of successive governments, or because of environmental/climate issues, or because of encroachment in the VGRs and another traditional muga-rearing land? Is there a need to entirely revisit the muga sector, redefine it and adopt fresh strategies to provide a much-needed fillip to it?