BSB implements sericulture uplift project in CHT
Sunday, 16 September 2007
RAJSHAHI, Sept 15 (BSS): Bangladesh Sericulture Board (BSB) is implementing a development project in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) with a view to creating massive employment opportunities through expansion of sericulture along with development of silk industries there.
Concerned BSB officials told the news agency that the three-year project styled "Expansion of sericulture in CHT districts" is being executed at an estimated cost of about Tk 35.50 million.
A total of 12 upazilas in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban have been brought under the project that commenced in July 2005.
Sericulture extension activities of four upazilas are being implemented by BSB's own manpower and in the rest eight by selected non-government organisations (NGOs).
The main objective of the project, they said, is to create job opportunities for tribal and non-tribal distressed and rootless people through expansion of sericulture to all the potential areas.
In addition, they said, to create suitable environment for production of small and cottage-based silk yarn, the project has a provision for creating sound atmosphere for women empowerment by involving them in economic activities.
The target groups would be operational with necessary training on rearing of silkworm and silk cocoon and silk yarn production. Ultimately, their dependence on government relief could be reduced through promotion of sericulture.
Official sources said about 3750 people of the three districts would be incorporated in the project activities and 0.75 million mulberry plants, to be produced with BSB's own farms, will be disbursed among the beneficiaries. With the end of the project, the number of mulberry plants would be enhanced to 0.25 million.
Another 3250 mulberry cultivators and 500 sericulture families would be given training and motivation along with extending other necessary inputs so that they could produce mulberry plants and rear silkworm and cocoon with their own initiatives, the BSB sources told the news agency.
On the need basis, sources said, training would be provided to all the persons related to the field in phases. The BSB will arrange the marketing facilities for the silk cocoons and yarn to be produced by the farmers.
The BSB officials said, apart from ensuring the marketing facilitates, 2500 people related to different stages of the silk cultivation would be given training and all the mulberry cultivators would be involved in various sericulture activities along with silk cocoon production.
They said 11 worm-rearing centres would be set up covering the project area in order to supplying 'chawki' worm among the farmers instead of silkworm-egg.
With the implementation of the project, they expressed the hope that people of the CHT districts would be familiarised with the sericulture and silk industries for the first time.
Various infrastructures catering to the project would be established that would bring a positive impact regarding socio-economic development of the beneficiaries, they added.
The project is being considered as a time-fitting and labour-intensive agricultural cottage industry in the area.
As a result of extending technological inputs for all stages of sericulture at the grassroots, a skilled community would be built for the silk sector.
Having provision for carrying out sericulture extension activities through NGOs in the project, they said, operational NGOs would implement more diversified programmes like sericulture, which would contribute a lot to establishing more labour-intensive cottage industries in the CHT districts.
Concerned BSB officials told the news agency that the three-year project styled "Expansion of sericulture in CHT districts" is being executed at an estimated cost of about Tk 35.50 million.
A total of 12 upazilas in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban have been brought under the project that commenced in July 2005.
Sericulture extension activities of four upazilas are being implemented by BSB's own manpower and in the rest eight by selected non-government organisations (NGOs).
The main objective of the project, they said, is to create job opportunities for tribal and non-tribal distressed and rootless people through expansion of sericulture to all the potential areas.
In addition, they said, to create suitable environment for production of small and cottage-based silk yarn, the project has a provision for creating sound atmosphere for women empowerment by involving them in economic activities.
The target groups would be operational with necessary training on rearing of silkworm and silk cocoon and silk yarn production. Ultimately, their dependence on government relief could be reduced through promotion of sericulture.
Official sources said about 3750 people of the three districts would be incorporated in the project activities and 0.75 million mulberry plants, to be produced with BSB's own farms, will be disbursed among the beneficiaries. With the end of the project, the number of mulberry plants would be enhanced to 0.25 million.
Another 3250 mulberry cultivators and 500 sericulture families would be given training and motivation along with extending other necessary inputs so that they could produce mulberry plants and rear silkworm and cocoon with their own initiatives, the BSB sources told the news agency.
On the need basis, sources said, training would be provided to all the persons related to the field in phases. The BSB will arrange the marketing facilities for the silk cocoons and yarn to be produced by the farmers.
The BSB officials said, apart from ensuring the marketing facilitates, 2500 people related to different stages of the silk cultivation would be given training and all the mulberry cultivators would be involved in various sericulture activities along with silk cocoon production.
They said 11 worm-rearing centres would be set up covering the project area in order to supplying 'chawki' worm among the farmers instead of silkworm-egg.
With the implementation of the project, they expressed the hope that people of the CHT districts would be familiarised with the sericulture and silk industries for the first time.
Various infrastructures catering to the project would be established that would bring a positive impact regarding socio-economic development of the beneficiaries, they added.
The project is being considered as a time-fitting and labour-intensive agricultural cottage industry in the area.
As a result of extending technological inputs for all stages of sericulture at the grassroots, a skilled community would be built for the silk sector.
Having provision for carrying out sericulture extension activities through NGOs in the project, they said, operational NGOs would implement more diversified programmes like sericulture, which would contribute a lot to establishing more labour-intensive cottage industries in the CHT districts.