Ranchi: The Jharkhand government is planning to double the production of tassar silk in the financial year 2008-09, officials said.

At present Jharkhand produces nearly 150 tonnes of tassar and the state's handloom and sericulture department has ambitious plans to help silk farmers.

The department has developed around 30,000 nucleus cocoons and these cocoons are likely to produce 600,000 seeds by July. Each farmer will be given 200 to 250 eggs for rearing.

In 2007, the state had produced 1.5 million commercial seeds and the department plans to increase the commercial seed production by five million this year.

"We have large plans to double the tassar production in the state. We are also planning to train additional 30,000 people in silk rearing. Till now the state has around 65,000 traditional or trained silk farmers," said Dhirendra Kumar, director of Jharkhand handloom and sericulture department.

The Central Silk Board (CSB) recently approved opening up of five new cluster-training centres in the state. An additional 30,000 people will be trained at these centres, according to the official.

Source : IANS