With silk craft office in ruins, art of sericulture may vanish from Kalimpong

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, JAN 21, 2023: The silk craft office at Nimbong Gram Panchayat has now turned into ruins. This office was damaged in the 1980s, during the days of the Gorkhaland agitation. 

 Since then, the restoration of this office has not been completed. This has caused a lot of trouble to the farmers who produce silk. People of the area have complained that no interest has been shown from the concerned parties and departments till date.

Prior to the 80s, silkworms were reared in this area and the cocoons produced in large quantities were sent to the Kalimpong Sericulture Office. The production of silk began to decline after the closure of the craft office itself. Silk cocoons are produced in small quantities now.

In the 80s, when the office was built for silk production, five acres were earmarked for the cultivation of cocoons. At present, seven acres are earmarked for the purpose. But, till today, the office for silk production has not been reconstructed.

George Lepcha, one of the three employees at the office, said quality silk cocoons could be produced at the place. This could also add to the income of the local villagers. The ‘kimbu’ leaves available only on government land were not sufficient for the silkworms, so ‘kimbu’ plants must be procured from private farmers as well.

Unfortunately, however, with the government taking no initiative to restore the silk production office, after the retirement of the three existing employees, there would be no employee to take care of sericulture in the region and the art of silk production may disappear from Nimbong in future.