MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGIES FOR SERICULTURE
In order to achieve the
target of 6000 MT bivoltine production of silk by the end of 10th
plan, multi-pronged strategies have been chalked out. Addressing
the Consultative Committee Meeting on Sericulture in New Delhi
today, Shri Kashiram Rana, Minister of Textiles said that in the
first instance, there is need of market reforms and deregulation
of sericulture marketing by the states so that contract farming,
and producer-user links can be established.
Secondly, certification of quality
in seed cocoon and commercial seed production and supply is required.
Systems for quality certification have to be established along
the lines of ISO certification. This is necessary to expand seed
supplies and stabilize production with assurance to the farmers
against diseases and epidemics. He emphasized that a massive input
of technology in reeling and weaving is of utmost urgency. The
overall productivity potential of bivoltine can be realised only
if the cocoon is reeled and woven on machines with the appropriate
technologies. An efforts to introduce technologies is being made
by Central Silk Board (CDB) through introduction of multi-end
reeling machines. The Ministry of Finance has also helped by reducing
the import duties on sericulture equipments and machines. Mr.
Rana stressed to capitalize on these initiatives and encourage
large industry to step into this sector and envisage and set up
composite reeling and weaving units with multi-end reeling machines
and high-speed powerlooms. Moreover, a stable tariff regime, which
provides reasonable protection and safeguards against cheaper
imports or threats of dumping is need of the hour. Action must
be taken to ensure that prices of cocoons and raw silk hold steady,
and if necessary, be prepared with measures like price stabilization
schemes.
Foreign Direct Investments
in the form of joint ventures could possible take place if this
sector is reoriented with the appropriate policies, he expressed.
The Planning Commission has agreed to a substantially enhanced
outlay of Rs. 650 crores. In the coming year, the outlay has been
increased to Rs. 142.11 crores.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister
of State for Textiles, Shri Dhananjaya Kumar said India produces
all four known commercially exploited varieties of silks viz.
Mulberry, Tasar, Eri and Muga. Over the last three decades, Indian
silk production steadily rose, outpacing some countries that were
once leading silk producers. India is now the second largest producer
of raw silk in the world after China, with a production of about
16900 tonnes in 2001-02. Mulberry silk accounts for about 96%
in the production total of all varieties of silks.
India is also credited for at
least four distinctions in the world of silk. Moreover, India
is the largest consumer of silk, second largest producer of silk,
largest importers of mulberry raw silk, and producer of all five
commercially exploited silks in the world like mulberry, tasar,
oak tasar, eri and muga. While expressing satisfaction over the
growth of sericulture industry, he said, Indian silk industry
has moved on with long strides since the last two decades. Silk
production has increased from about 4000 tonnes in 1980 to over
16,900 tonnes in 2001.
Taking into account the market
opportunities available in the free-trade regime, alongwith increased
production, quality, product diversification, and competitive
pricing through productivity improvements, for the overall development
of Indian sericulture and silk industry should be taken care of.
He informed the members that
armed with the newly developed tropical bivoltine technology,
regions suitable for bivoltine cocoon cultivation have been identified
and special programmes have been formulated for upgrading the
farmer level infrastructure like independent silkworm rearing
houses, modern rearing and cocooning equipments, drip irrigation
kits etc. It is estimated that international trade in silk
products currently constitutes an annual turnover of over six-and-a-half
billion US Dollars with Indian exports amounting to about 530
million US Dollars in the year 2001. Development programmes have
been drafted to raise silk production to about 26000 tonnes by
the end of 2007, which includes 6700 tonnes of bivoltine silk
and these development programme include Rs 650 crores of Central
Sector funding, and about Rs. 2200 crores of State Sector funding,
he divulged.
Shri Lajpat Rai, Member of Rajya
Sabha, while participating in the discussion suggested that surveys
should be conducted to find out more regions specially in Punjab
for growing Mulberry and the quality of silk be improved.
