Assam’s Mission Senehjori: Turning Muga Silk Waste Into High‑Value Yarn

On July 19, 2026, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X to announce a bold new plan for Assam’s silk sector – Mission Senehjori. The initiative, tucked into the state’s current‑year budget, aims to capture roughly 40 % of Muga silk cocoons that today end up as waste and spin them into high‑value yarn.

Muga silk, with its distinctive golden sheen, carries a Geographical Indication tag and is the priciest of Assam’s four commercial silks – the others being Eri, Paat and Tasar. Yet, despite its celebrated status, almost two‑thirds of the harvest never sees the loom because the state lacks the necessary processing infrastructure.

Mission Senehjori is designed to plug that gap. By pouring fresh capital into modern reeling and spinning facilities, the programme hopes to turn what is now a discarded by‑product into a market‑ready fibre that can fetch a premium price. The government says the move will not only curb waste but also improve resource utilisation across the entire sericulture value chain.

Beyond the environmental upside, the scheme is pitched as a major employment driver. Assam’s silk industry already supports more than 7 lakh households and directly employs about 2.6 lakh families across roughly 10,500 villages. Women make up over 70 % of that workforce, so any boost in yarn production translates into new opportunities for women artisans and rural entrepreneurs.

Officials estimate that the new yarn could open avenues for value‑added products – from high‑end fabrics to blended textiles that command better prices in national and international markets. In the long run, the state hopes to position Assam not just as a silk‑producing region but as a hub for premium yarn and finished goods.

While the mission is still in its early stages, the CM’s upbeat post hinted at a phased rollout, beginning with pilot units in key silk‑producing districts. “The iconic Muga is Assam’s pride, yet nearly 40 % of its cocoons go to waste,” Sarma wrote, promising that the upcoming infrastructure will ensure “silk waste becomes high‑value spun yarn.”

Stakeholders—from small‑scale sericulturists to women’s self‑help groups—have welcomed the move, calling it a timely intervention that could revitalize a sector that is both culturally iconic and economically vital.