Shillong, May 11, 2026: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma inaugurated “Sai Lum,” an Eri Yarn Manufacturing Unit at Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi district.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said Meghalaya is the world’s second-largest producer of eri cocoons, generating nearly 700 metric tonnes annually. However, farmers often sold cocoons at low prices while weavers purchased processed yarn at higher rates due to spinning being done outside the state. He described the “cocoon-to-yarn gap” as the biggest challenge in Meghalaya’s Eri silk value chain.
The unit, established by local entrepreneur Wallambok Pyngrope, was developed with an investment of Rs 1.20 crore supported by PRIME Meghalaya, NECTAR, and the entrepreneur’s own contribution. Sai Lum has the capacity to produce 25–30 kg of quality Eri yarn daily, amounting to 7.5 metric tonnes annually.
The project aims to directly procure cocoons from local farmers at stable prices and provide affordable quality yarn to local weaving clusters, reducing dependence on middlemen and outside suppliers.
The initiative is expected to create 10–15 direct jobs and benefit nearly 7,000 cocoon-producing farmers and 2,500 weavers across Ri-Bhoi, with over 9,500 indirect beneficiaries in the Eri silk value chain.
