Maharashtra Signs MoU to Launch Tussar Silk Development Project in Gadchiroli

Mumbai, July 21: The Maharashtra government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Directorate of Sericulture and BAIF to launch a Special Tussar Silk Development Project in Gadchiroli district. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Textile Minister Sanjay Savkare at Mantralaya.

The initiative aims to provide sustainable employment and enhance the income of tribal farming families by promoting the Tussar silk industry. More than 2,270 tribal farmer families in Gadchiroli are expected to benefit through improved livelihood opportunities, skill development, and market support.

Eastern Vidarbha, including Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Bhandara, and Gondia, has nearly 44,500 acres of Tussar host trees, supporting around 3,000 tribal families engaged in traditional silk production.

The project includes establishing private Tussar seed production centres, promoting commercial cocoon production, developing value-added post-cocoon activities, and providing technical training and capacity-building programmes. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering Scheduled Tribes and women’s self-help groups.

The government believes the project will strengthen the local rural economy, generate sustainable employment, and accelerate the vision of self-reliant tribal development in the region.