Indian silk industry can become self-reliant by 2020

19 Nov '15

1 min read

By 2020, the Indian silk industry can potentially become self-reliant to meet demands of domestic silk market on the back of an annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent. Currently, the Indian silk industry contributes 16.12 per cent to the total world silk output. Indian silk production is around 29,000 tonnes.

India currently imports 6,000 to 8,000 tonnes of raw silk and silk fabric from China to meet the growing domestic demand of around 34,000 tonnes. The country exports silk worth Rs. 3,000 crore a year.

Central Silk Board Member Secretary H. Nagesh Prabhu told reporters in Myduru that India doubled its raw silk production in the last 10 years from 15,000 tonnes a year to almost 29,000 tonnes a year.

While research and development has boosted production, new silkworm productive breeds, high yielding mulberry varieties, quality disease-free layings, scientifically-designed rearing shed, mounting devices, and high performance reeling devices have also helped increase silk output.

Bivoltine silk production had doubled within a year as the output had gone up from 1,700 tonnes in 2013-14 to 3,800 tonnes in 2014-15, Prabhu said. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

More Textiles News - India...