Govt target 32,000 tn of raw silk production

Government has set a target of producing 32,000 tonnes of raw silk, including 5,000 tonnes of superior quality of bivoltine raw silk, during the 12th Plan period, Textiles Minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao said today.

The employment generation would be around 9.27 million by the terminal year of 12th Plan period directly and indirectly, he told reporters here.

With a view to improving the living standards of stakeholders of sericulture industry and to increase income of the rural poor as also to boost production of raw silk in the country, Rao said an additional area of 59,000 hectares of mulberry is proposed to be raised during 12th Plan period. In order to achieve the targets in the 12th Plan, Rao said the Central Silk Board would integrate the present scheme of Catalytic Development Programme and focus on cluster approach to improve the quality of cacoon and silk.

As many as 100 Bivoltine Silk Production Clusters had been envisaged to be developed which would be linked to R&D institutes and regional sericulture research stations, Rao said.

On shortage of trained workforce, he said the matter would be addressed in consultation with the state government for providing the entrepreneurs necessary assistance for in-house training of man power. Rao urged the industry to build brand equity for Indian textiles in world market.