State to get 2 reeler units, 4 cocoon testing centres

Official sources told Deccan Herald that the reeling machines being procured from China at a cost of Rs 2.8 crore each, will be installed at Karnataka’s premier cocoon transacting market Ramanagaram and Sidlaghatta. These machines will produce international grade quality silk and match the quality of silk imported.

Likewise, sources said, to ensure farmers produce high quality cocoons, four more cocoon testing centres are being set up in the State to add to the existing one at Ramanagaram by Central Silk Technological Research Institute. These centres will come up at Kollegal, Shirdi, Sidlaghatta and Kolar. Each equipment costs over Rs 1 lakh each.

Technical guidance

These centres, apart from providing technical guidance to farmers for producing good quality cocoons, imparts technical guidance and assistance to multi-end reelers to produce gradable silk yarn as well.

The proposal for four cocoon testing centres, sources said, are part of the national plan to establish 25 such centres in different states.  These, would be promoted through department of sericulture of the states, NGOs, quality service clubs and societies. While four have been set up in Vaniyambadi and Hosur in Tamil Nadu, Bhilaspur in Himachal Pradesh and Chandragiri in Orissa, seven more units, of which three will be in Andhra Pradesh, two in Jammu & Kashmir and one each in Madhya Pradesh and Manipur are being set up.

It is also likely that to mitigate woes of cocoon farmers following recent crash in cocoon prices and silk weavers across the country, the Centre, proposes to bring the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism during the current 12th Five Year Plan.

Stating that for year 2010-11, the Centre has provided Rs 320 crore under plan and Rs 204.30 crore under non-plan for Central Silk Board to carry out various initiatives for betterment of sericulture and silk sector in the country, sources said, the modalities and quantum of financial intervention are currently being worked out.