Assam Gets Modern Silkworm Seed Grainage and Cold Storage Hub in Jorhat

Silk farmers across the North-East will now secure reliable local access to certified silkworm seed following the commissioning of a new grainage and cold storage hub in Jorhat, Assam. Constructed under the North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme at Rowriah, the Central Silk Board facility can generate 30 lakh Disease-Free Layings of mulberry hybrid seed each year and safely store up to 1 crore layings under controlled conditions.

The new facility directly targets a long-standing structural vulnerability in the regional silk economy: seasonal seed deficits and spoilage during transit that undermine rearing cycles. Assam produces approximately 84% of India's Muga silk and 74% of its Eri silk, yet smallholders frequently face yield uncertainty due to uneven seed supply. Establishing cold preservation capacity locally allows farmers to synchronize rearing schedules with peak leaf availability, stabilizing both raw silk output and rural earnings.

With sericulture generating employment for nearly 30 lakh people across the North-Eastern states, the Jorhat hub serves as a critical anchor for regional self-reliance. During the launch event, officials distributed foundation P1 seed directly to progressive farmers and presented technical training certifications under the Ministry's Samarth Scheme, reinforcing ongoing initiatives like Mission Senehjori to lift export competitiveness in traditional silk belts.