Aizwal: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh arrived in Aizawl on Monday for his maiden visit to Mizoram and was received at Lengpui Airport by Chief Minister Lalduhoma and Sericulture Minister Lalthansanga.

During his two-day visit, the Union Minister held discussions with the Chief Minister on strengthening the textiles sector in the state. He later chaired a review meeting at Lok Bhavan, attended by officials from the Sericulture, Cooperation, and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare departments, along with representatives from the Eastern Zone Weavers' Service Centre and the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms.

Addressing the meeting, Singh highlighted Mizoram's strong potential in sericulture and fibre-based industries, stressing the need for small, community-level machinery for fibre extraction and cocoon processing. He said decentralised infrastructure would boost production while creating sustainable livelihoods in rural areas. He also advocated for a buy-back model in fibre projects and called for diversification into fibres such as ramie and linen through pilot initiatives led by the Agriculture Department.

On the handloom sector, Singh suggested targeted household-level interventions, including support for select families with multiple looms to create successful micro-models. He said such examples could inspire wider community participation. He also emphasised the need for buyer-seller meets involving designers and stakeholders from across the Northeast to improve market access and product visibility.

The Minister further underlined the importance of branding and youth participation, especially encouraging women to take a leading role in promoting silk products from the region. He stressed that a coordinated approach combining innovation, market linkages, and grassroots empowerment is key to unlocking the sector's full potential.

Officials presented an overview of Mizoram's sericulture landscape and future roadmap. Cooperation Commissioner and Secretary Udit Prakash Rai and Sericulture Secretary Florence Zotluangpuii delivered a presentation on the state's potential, while Agriculture Joint Director R. Lalramhluni outlined departmental initiatives. Representatives from central textile bodies also shared ongoing projects.

Singh also visited Zozia Silk & Handloom in Tlangnuam and Lapar in Kulikawn, interacting with artisans and inspecting facilities. Zozia, established in 1992, is a noted silk weaving unit recognised with a National Merit Certificate, while Lapar has contributed significantly to tailoring and traditional Mizo attire.

Earlier in the day, the Union Minister visited the Sericulture Training Institute in Zemabawk, where he participated in a tree plantation drive by planting Som trees used for Muga silk production. He also toured the silk reeling unit and interacted with farmers and weavers.

Addressing stakeholders, Singh said Mizoram is uniquely positioned as the only state in the region producing all four major silk varieties - Muga, Eri, Mulberry, and Tasar. He noted that over 6,000 farmers and nearly 19,000 individuals in the state depend on sericulture for their livelihood. Highlighting recent growth in the sector, he said Mizoram has recorded an annual growth rate of around 5.5 to 6 percent.

He announced support under the Silk Samagra 2.0 scheme and proposed a cluster-based approach to boost productivity, identifying Lunglei, Champhai, Saitual, and Siaha as potential Muga districts. He also encouraged healthy competition among farmers and called for incentives and structured support systems to drive growth. Collaboration with institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology was also suggested to strengthen design and market linkages.