Three-year (2005-2008) special development project for extension of sericulture in three Hill Districts of Rangamati, Bandarban & Khagrachari has been jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs & the Ministry of Textiles & Jute. Bangladesh Sericulture Board is responsible for the implementation of the project. The project cost is Tk 35.466 million, financed by the Ministry of Chittogong Hill Tracts Affairs. Source of fund is GOB grant. The project has been commenced in July, 2005 and will be completed in June.2008. Deputy Director, Rangamati Sericulture Extension Region of Bangladesh Sericulture Board is the Project Director of the Project.

                        A hilly women weaving her own cloth

Location of the Project:

Objectives:

i)      To extend the sericulture activities in all hill districts.

ii)     To create employment opportunity for the disturbed & up-rooted tribal people as well as non-tribal people.

iii)   To create environment for establishment of small & cottage reeling industries in the area.

iv)    To impart training on rearing of silkworm, cocoon production & reeling of silk yarn to the people.

v)    To reduce dependencies of the sericulture taking up families on the government relief operation.

Strategies:

i)      Motivation of the farmers/target groups would be given highest     priority.

ii)       Attention would be given for proper selection of the location for mulberry plantation.

iii)      Training of farmers shall be ensured well ahead in two phases. Firstly, before plantation of mulberry saplings; secondly, before silkworm rearing started.

iv)      11 chawki/ rearing centers will be established to supply chawki worm instead of DFLs supply.

v)      Rearing appliances like Dala, Chandraki, Ghara & disinfectants will be distributed in kind among the farmers.

vi)    Extension activities will mainly be conducted through NGO's on contact basis.

Major Activities:

i)      7 lakh & fifty thousand mulberry saplings will be produced & distributed among the farmers.

ii)       Training of 2500 farmers will be imparted.

iii)      12500 Dalas, 7500 Chandrakis & 500 Gharas will be supplied to the farmers for silkworm rearing purpose.

iv)      Plantation support for 3500 families will be rendered.

v)       11 no. Chawki-cum-demonstration centers will be established.

vi)      8000 kgs silk cocoon will be purchased from the farmers.

vii)     Extension services will mainly be provided through NGO.

viii)    2 rearing houses & office cum dormitory will be constructed.

Out put of the Project:

i)       3500 families/farmers of 3 hill districts will be taken under mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing.

ii)       Employment of 18000 persons will be generated.

iii)      Mulberry hectares will be increased.

iv)      Cocoon production will be increased.

v)    Entire project area will be acquired with sericulture production processes. This will have a long term positive impact for further sericulture extension in the area.

vi)      Women employment and poverty alleviation will be achieved through sericulture extension.

Achievment of the Project (up to June`2006)

i)        3,30,000 nos of saplings Produced  & distributed  among  the  farmers              of    the Chittagong Hill Tracts area.

ii)       570  persons were  trained  in  mulberry cultivation and  silkworm                    rearing in the selected area.

iii)      700 kgs of silk cocoons produced by the new farmars were purehand.

iv)     Construction of (one) rearing house cum training centre compleded.

v)      4( four) motor cycles and various types of  machinery / equipment have
         been   procured for  proper  implementation  of  sericulture  activities
         of the project.  

Extension works through NGO's:

      For the first time Bangladesh Sericulture Board is going to implement the extension activities in the hill districts through NGO's participation on contract basis. The NGO BORNA has already been selected on the basis of open tender competition. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the selected NGO & Project Director of the project has already been completed. The major conditions of the MOU are laid down the project document. The NGO will get service charges from the office of the Project Director on quarterly basis depending on the progress of the activities.