'No rollback of enhanced import duty on raw silk'

Union Minister for Commerce, Industries and Textiles, Anand Sharma assured the stakeholders of sericulture and silk industry that there will be no rollback on enhanced import duty on raw silk.

He was speaking after hearing the grievances of silk producers, reelers and weavers from Karnataka, at a programme here on Friday.

The minister assured that the Union government will seriously think about hiking customs duty on imported Chinese silk fabrics.

He called upon the stakeholders to help India emerge a major silk producing country in the world.

“The government is keen on increasing the domestic production of silk to 32 tonnes a year in the future. India should become self-sufficient in silk production and should be able to export silk in future,” Sharma added.

The minister released two high productive silkworm breeds for largescale field trials in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The hybrid silkworm breeds, developed by the scientists of the Central Silk Board (CSB), are expected to enhance the farmers’ income significantly in the coming days, he said.