India trails China in silk production

At 7,360 tonnes, Karnataka accounts for 38 pc of the nations produce

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on ‘Recent Advances in Sericulture Research’ here, she said the nation’s silk production stood at 19,600 tonnes a year against the demand of 28,000 tonnes. At 7,360 tonnes, Karnataka accounts for 38 per cent of the nation’s produce.

“India stands second in the world raw silk production contributing to around 15 per cent of the global raw silk production trailing far behind China that produces 98,620 metric tonnes annually accounting to around 81 per cent of global silk production” said Lakshmi.

Deforestation

According to the minister, deforestation and climate change is impacting local sericulture, but she was hopeful that the gap in the  production will be bridged by the end of 12th five year plan.

Lakshmi said that of the 63 lakh workers employed in sericulture-related activities across the country, Karnataka alone had 13.56 lakh workers.

“Over the past few decades, the silk industry made good progress with regard to productivity and quality of the output with improved processing machinery and practices besides enhancing India's capability to produce silk of international grades,” added the minister.

Joint Secretary (Silk), in the Government of India, Monika S Garg called for including sericulture under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, which she said would help to consolidate, India’s position in quality silk production on the world map.

A 25-minute video documentary on large-scale sericulture farming, a handbook of sericulture technology and a ‘India Silk Directory’ were released on the occasion. The Central Silk Board and the Union Ministry of Textiles organised the two-day workshop.