Tata Steel Foundation signs MoA with CTRTI for sustainable Sericulture Development  

Jamshedpur/Ranchi, Dec 13: A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between Tata Steel Foundation and Central Tasar Research and Training Institute (CTRTI), Ranchi, to establish a knowledge partnership aimed at fostering sustainable livelihoods through sericulture-based activities in Odisha and Jharkhand. The primary objective of the knowledge partnership is to extend support in sericulture-based activities for training and delivering effective pre-cocoon and post-cocoon technologies for the conservation of Sukinda ecorace.

The MoA was signed by Dr N B Chowdary, Director, Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, and Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation, at the Institute campus in Ranchi. As part of this, both the entities will jointly collaborate to provide technical assistance and training to the farming communities and enrich their knowledge on adoption of improved package of practices that includes disease management for maintenance of host plants and silkworm larvae, integrated conservation and land management and assist in obtaining necessary certifications wherever necessary.

Speaking on the occasion, Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer of Tata Steel Foundation, expressed, “Through this partnership, we aim to enable access to comprehensive training and orientation for underserved communities, revitalising the Tasar silk and sericulture sector in the regions of Harichandanpur, Sukinda, and Danagadi. The main intent behind this collaborative effort is to contribute to the conservation of Sukinda ecorace. It gives us immense pleasure to partner with Central Tasar Research and Training Institute and we look forward to our collaborative results.”

Under this MoA, Central Tasar Research and Training Institute and Tata Steel Foundation plan to conduct six training sessions annually, reaching out to 160 households. The long-term goals of the partnership include developing Tasar cultivation zones in identified blocks, fostering biodiversity-rich ecosystems, and establishing self-governed community institutions.