After closing down the Chandrapur Silk Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSMTC) unit in Maharashtra, the Central Silk Board 9CSB) established a new BSMTC in Bhandara, also in Maharashtra to ensure continuity of supply of DFLs and silkworm eggs to silk farmers in the state.
This was revealed by Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State (Textiles) in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The Central Silk Board (CSB) had earlier established a BSMTC at Chandrapur for production and supply of basic tasar seeds to the state owned Pilot Project Centers (PPCs) for further multiplication and supply of tasar farmers.
The tasar seed production and seed cocoon generation at BSTMTC, Chandrapur was adversely affected continuously due to opening of coal mines and other industrial establishments in and around the tasar farms and surrounding operational areas of the Center.
Increase in mining and industrial activities resulted in accumulation of huge coal dust, smoke and other polluting particles on leaf surfaces of the plantation which caused poor grainage operations in the areas of the Center.
This pollution affected the production and productivity of the Center. Silkworm egg production of BSMTC Chandrapur fell drastically and it became unviable to run the Center.
In view of this situation, it was decided to phase-out the activities of the CSB’s Chandrapur unit and was finally closed by CSB.
In order to meet the demand of Maharashtra State’s tasar seed requirement, another unit of CSB viz. BSMTC, Bhandara was set up which is producing tasar seeds for supply to the State Government PPCs, for further multiplication and supply of required commercial seeds to the tasar farmers of Maharashtra.
BTSSO (Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation) of CSB located at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh State too has taken responsibility of organizing seed production and supply of tropical tasar seeds to all the tasar growing states including Maharashtra.
This unit has produced and supplied 91,223 basic DFLs during the year 2013-14 to the Department of Sericulture, Maharashtra for arranging supply of commercial seeds to the farmers, including the farmers of Chandrapur area.
“In order to promote sericulture industry in the country, Govt. of India through CSB is implementing ‘Catalytic Development Programme” (CDP) during the XII Plan period, in collaboration with all the State Sericulture Departments, including Maharashtra”, the Minister informed the Lok Sabha.
