Shillong, May 11: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday inaugurated “Sai Lum,” an Eri yarn manufacturing unit at Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi district, describing the initiative as a major step towards strengthening the state’s Eri silk value chain and improving livelihoods for farmers and weavers.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma visits the Sai Lum Eri yarn manufacturing unit at Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi district during its inauguration ceremony aimed at strengthening the state’s silk value chain. (Image: X/SangmaConrad) |
Speaking at the inauguration programme, the Chief Minister said Meghalaya is currently the world’s second-largest producer of Eri cocoons, generating nearly 700 metric tonnes annually. However, he noted that local farmers had long been forced to sell cocoons at low prices while weavers purchased processed yarn at much higher rates from outside the state.
“The cocoon-to-yarn gap has been the single biggest constraint in our Eri silk value chain,” Sangma said, adding that enterprises such as Sai Lum would help bridge the gap between cocoon production and yarn manufacturing.
He stated that Ri-Bhoi district remains the centre of silk production in Meghalaya, with nearly 7,900 silkworm rearers and around 4,760 weavers engaged in the sector. Despite their contribution, the financial returns had remained limited for years, he added.
Sai Lum was established by young entrepreneur Wallambok Pyngrope with a total project cost of Rs 1.20 crore. The project received support from PRIME Meghalaya and NECTAR, along with investment from the entrepreneur himself.
According to officials, the unit has the capacity to spin 25 to 30 kilograms of quality Eri yarn daily, producing around 7.5 metric tonnes annually. The facility will directly procure cocoons from local farmers at fair and stable prices and process them into yarn for local weaving clusters.
The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on outside procurement and middlemen while stabilising prices within the Eri silk ecosystem.
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Officials said the unit would generate 10 to 15 direct jobs in areas such as spinning, procurement, quality control and operations.
The project is also expected to benefit nearly 7,000 cocoon-producing farmers and around 2,500 weavers across Ri-Bhoi district by ensuring access to a reliable local market and affordable quality yarn.
The Chief Minister said the government remains committed to developing Meghalaya’s silk sector into a sustainable livelihood ecosystem driven by local entrepreneurship and value addition.
