JOIN USPromote silk farming in villages, says Governor
The government should promote and develop the sericulture and silk industry said Governor Vajubhai Vala on Monday. Silk farming in rural areas and by tribals should be encouraged as there are many job opportunities in silk farming.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 23rd International Congress of International Sericultural Commission (ISC) on sericulture and the silk industry, he suggested that the government should come up with more projects to promote the industry as a whole.
He said, “Earlier silk clothes were worn by a large number of people. But now, other fabrics like cotton, nylon and polyester are giving competition and have reduced the demand for silk fabrics. The interests of farmers working in the cultivation of cotton and sericulture need to be protected, the governor said.
Vala released two books on the occasion - ‘Mulberry Sericulture in New Areas’ (authored by S K Panda) and a special issue of Indian Silk magazine. He also awarded three scientists with the Louis Pasteur prize instituted by the ISC to Dr B B Angadi from India, Dr Hiroaki Machii from Japan and Dr Suwannee CUNVONG from Thailand.
Rajiv Chawla, principal secretary to Horticulture department, said technicians and scientists from different countries have been invited to give suggestions and inputs. There are many challenges in the development of the industry. Sericulture should be popularised in villages as a culture, he said.
Also present on the occasion were Ishita Roy, secretary general, ISC, and Bisse Gowda, chairman, Central Silk Board.