The Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Dr Ranjit Patil has assured to facilitate all future research on spiders in the state.
Speaking at the third conference of Asian Society of Arachnology here today, Patil said the state government would offer assistance and co-operation for all future research projects on spiders and sought more contribution from scientists.
The minister described spiders as "eco-friendly" for farmers, and said he would ask the state Biodiversity Board to work in this field.
He presented some species of spiders donated by the Asian Society of Arachnology to the Bombay Natural History Society, for the purpose of undertaking studies.
Several subject experts, including Asian Society of Arachnology president Hirotsugu Ono, Mohan Khedkar, G N Vankhede, gave their inputs on different aspects of spider research.
The four-day event would be attended by around 125 delegates from across the globe.
