India is second largest producer of silk in the world, making this industry one of the key pillars of country's economy.
Recognizing this, the Government has decided to develop production of four varieties of silk, by providing them special consideration in the XIth Plan that ends 2012. Reportedly, a total of the Rs14.76 billion has been allocated for this purpose.
Currently, annual demand from Indian silk industry reaches around 26,000 tons, while importing around 5,500 tons from China to bridge the demand-supply gap.
Sources from Central Silk Board (CSB), the apex body of the Indian silk industry, confirmed to Fibre2fashion that Government plans to raise raw silk production from the current 18,475 tons to 26,000 tons by the end of 2012.
The four varieties that will be the focus are Mulberry, Tussar, Eri and Muga silk.
CSB is currently implementing the Catalytic Development Programmes (CDP) under which a number of centrally sponsored Schemes are taken up for the development of sericulture with the involvement of the State Governments both in traditional and non-traditional areas.
A sum of Rs307.6 million under CDP scheme has been released to different State Governments, this fiscal.
CSB has also proposed to create 40 sericulture and silk clusters during 2008-09 in different parts of the country, covering both mulberry and Vanya silk sectors.
The Board believes that cluster-based sericulture cultivation would help to increase production, while cutting production cost and make it easier for the Government to provide necessary facilities to farmers.
The CSB is also working on boosting bi-voltine silk production to 5,000 tons from 1,200 tons per annum during the 2007-08 period of XI Plan.
Fibre2fashion, News Desk - India
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