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Philippines to frame roadmap for revival of silk industry

05 Apr '13
2 min read

Aiming to put the country’s weakening silk industry back on track, Philippines’ Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) would soon come out with a plan, which would include both long term and short term growth targets for the sector.
 
The short term target would stretch from 2014 to 2017, while the long term target would be from 2018 to 2027, FIDA Administrator Cecile Soriano said.
 
According to FIDA, the country’s raw silk production has slipped to slightly above one-fourth the production of 2003, when the country produced 3,292 kg raw silk from 9,066 kg dried cocoon with mulberry trees for silkworm rearing spread on an area of 245 hectares. As against this, during last year the country hardly collected 894 kg of raw silk from 4,617 kg dried cocoon and 157 hectares of mulberry tree plantations.
 
As mentioned on FIDA website, presently most of the country’s silk is produced by the not-for-profit Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) at its filature plant in Bago City in Negros Occidental. During last year, the organization contributed around 800 kg to the county’s total raw silk output.
 
Meanwhile, silk fabric exports from Philippines have declined to 54,810 square metres in 2012, as compared to 75,440 square metres in 2007. 
 
Hence, to revive the national silk industry, FIDA as a short term measure, proposes to provide farm inputs to farmers and enhance the mulberry plantation areas, as silk worms feed on these leaves.
 
For long term growth, FIDA proposes to enhance investment in silk-weaving facilities.
 
The Authority is also pursuing talks with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) to convince them to sanction incentives for textile mills engaging in production of silk fabrics, Ms. Soriano said.
 
She said they eye higher investor interest in textile mills as there is a readily available market for these products, and also as they want the investors to realize that they have a plan of action for the industry.
 
Philippines traditionally exports silk fabrics to countries like India, France, Singapore and the US.
 

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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