PATIL EXHORTS SILK EXPORTERS TO ACHIEVE TARGET OF 1 BILLION US
$
The Minister of State
for Textiles, Shri Basanagouda R. Patil exhorted the Silk Exporters
Council to set and achieve an ambitious export target of one billion
US $ by the end of the current plan. The Council has achieved
silk export target of Rs. 2235 crore( US $ 470 million) during
the year 2001-2002 despite adverse condition. Inaugurating a Seminar
on Marketing Development Assistance Scheme here today, he stated
that the silk industry in the country is one of the few industries,
which has the potential to emerge as a true global player in export
trade.
Speaking on the occasion
he said that while the Ministry has farmers’ interest in mind,
it wishes to give all its support to increase exports. All exporters
must be made aware of the MDA Scheme so that they avail of its
benefits for the diversification and growth of India’s export
trade.
He told the gathering
that the introduction of the new package of technologies has pushed
up productivity in sericulture by about 2.5 times increasing farmers’
and reelers’ income significantly. The domestic prices have been
adversely affected by the reversionary pressure on global economy,
decline in price of raw silk and accumulation of unsold stocks
due to financial difficulties of State Apex societies.
The Government has
taken several steps to relieve the silk farmers of the hardship
caused due to decline in raw silk and silk cocoon sales. Investigation
has been started to see if there is any dumping of silk by China.
Subsidies and financial support to farmers and reelers are being
substantially increased. The Tenth Plan budget of Sericulture
sector has been increased by 30% over the Ninth Plan to Rs. 454
and 41% of this amount (Rs. 186 crore) has been kept aside for
centrally sponsored plan scheme. Central Silk Board will provide
a soft loan of Rs. 1.5 crore to Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation
(KSIC) for purchase of cocoon.
