Bachegowda to lead silk industry delegation to New Delhi

Team to meet Textiles Minister Anand Sharma to discuss problems

The delegation will discuss the issues of minimum support price, import duty on silk and purchase of more silk through Karnataka Silk Marketing Board (KSMB), he added.

The all-party delegation, comprising farmers, ministers, former ministers and legislators, will apprise Sharma about the problems facing the industry and steps to be taken for its revival. 

He was speaking after holding discussions with regard to the problems faced by sericulturists, reelers and workers during a visit to the cocoon market in the town.

Reelers required

There were 7,500 silk reelers in the State, of whom 7,000 were from the Muslim community. If the number of reelers drops, there will be no takers for cocoons, Bachegowda said.

He directed the officials to construct Raitha Bhavana for the convenience of farmers who come from far off places. MLA V Muniyappa, who was present with the minister, said an amount of Rs 16 crore to Rs 20 crore was being collected each year from the one per cent cess taken from the farmers and reelers in the market.

The money should be used for upgrading the markets and installing CCTV cameras, he said.

State contribution

“As much as 60 to 70 per cent of the silk produced in the country is from the State. Lakhs of people depended on the industry for their survival, including farmers, reelers, twisters, dyers, weavers, traders, scientists, officials and workers,” said the memorandum submitted to Bachegowda by leader B Kempareddy on behalf of the farmers and reelers.

The country would not need to import silk if the State and Central governments provided the necessary support for its growth. Purchasing raw silk at a cost of Rs 2,500 through KSMB by providing it Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore, will help check the fluctuation in prices, besides providing better prices for the cocoons, the memorandum said.

Other requirements

Babajan, president of the Hamalis’ Association, sought more facilities and job security for the hamalis. A memorandum was also submitted to the minister in this regard.

Bachegowda also visited the multi-end sericulture loom centre and twisting unit of M Narayanappa in the town. Zilla Panchayat member Kambadahalli Satish, Taluk Panchayat president Venugopal, sericulture market deputy director Chandru, several farmers leaders and others were present on the occasion.