The Indian Government has decided to inject a whopping amount of Rs. 690 crores in the silk sector. The move has come as a fresh impetus to silk farming in the north-eastern part of the country, informed Central Silk Board (CSB) Chairman K M Hanumantharayappa.
The north-eastern region contributes around 21 per cent to the total silk production of India.
The fresh investment will give a boost to the dying mulberry farms in Meghalaya which are almost 100 years old.
The funds would be utilized to implement at least 24 projects under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) in the region. “Out of total 24, Assam has got six, one is for Sikkim, two each in Meghalaya and Manipur and the rest in other states,” said CSB Chief.
The scheme, aimed at a holistic development of sericulture, has been categorised under the Integrated Sericulture Development Project (ISDP) and the Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project [IBSDP] covering Mulberry, Eri and Muga.
During the 2016-17 season, eri production reached 3,600 tonnes, muga 141 tonnes while mulberry silk stood at 45 tonnes this year.
It’s not only the production, the Indian Government is also planning to promote silk farming in the NE states. The Government’s move is also aimed to counter China’s silk production.
