Govt earmarks Rs2,162-cr for integrated development of silk industry
29 Jul 2019
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Under the Central Sector Scheme Silk Samagra an Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) implemented by Government of India through Central Silk Board (CSB) with a total outlay of Rs2,161.68 crore for three years (2017-18 to 2019-20) for the overall development of silk industry in the country with an objective to scale up production by improving the quality and productivity.
Union minister of textiles Smriti Zubin Irani said the Silk Samagra schemes now cover 82,562 villages under 455 districts in 26 silk producing states.
The scheme comprises four major components, viz:
- Research and development, training, transfer of technology and information technology initiatives;
- Seed organisations;
- Coordination and market development; and
- Quality certification systems (QCS) / Export brand promotion and technology upgradation.
All the four major components of `Silk Samagra’ are interlinked so as to attain a common goal. The main objective of the scheme is to maintain breeder stock, breed improvement through R&D projects, development of mechanised practices, technology translation through Sericulture Information Linkages and Knowledge System (SILKS) portal, mobile application for stakeholders and for seed quality monitoring, develop technology packages, impart training on improved technology programmes to stakeholders, and transfer technology to the field through front line demonstration, produce basic and commercial seed of the improved silkworm breeds developed by the research institutes, encourage private partnership in seed sector, and maintain and certify the quality standards set by the R&D units for silkworm seed, cocoon, raw silk and silk products covering the entire silk value chain.
Research & Development: Race improvement through development of improved host plant varieties and improved disease resistant silkworm breeds through collaborative research with reputed national research organisations like IITs, CSIR, IISc as also international research institutes on sericulture.
Seed organisation: Seed production units will be strengthened to bring in quality standards in production network, besides increasing the production capacity to cater to the increased silk production target, promote adopted seed rearers to generate quality seed cocoons, private graineurs to produce quality seed and chawki rearing centres (CRCs) with incubation facilities to produce and supply chawki worms,
Quality Certification /Brand Promotion: Promote Indian silk through quality certification by Silk Mark not only in the domestic market but also in the export market. Besides, emphasis has been given for use of silkworm by-products (pupa) for poultry feed, Sericin for cosmetic applications and product diversification into non-woven fabrics, silk denim, silk knit etc for value addition.
The scheme also comprises of various beneficiary oriented components to support Mulberry, Vanya and post cocoon sectors. These interventions cover the major areas, viz:
- Development and expansion of host plant;
- Strengthening and creation of Silkworm seed Multiplication infrastructure;
- Development of farm and post-cocoon infrastructure;
- Upgradation of reeling and processing technologies in silk; and
- Capacity building through skill development / enterprise development programme.
These intervention schemes are expected to increase /improve the production and productivity of silk. Silk production in the country is expected to increase from the level of 30,348 tonnes during 2016-17 to 38,500 tonnes by end of 2019-20,
The production of Bivoltine import Substitute silk is expected to increase from 5266 tonnes in 2016-17 to 8,500 tonnes in 2019-20.
Vanya Raw Silk production is expected to go up from 9,075 tonnes in 2016-17 to 11,500 tonnes in 2019-20.
Besides, the schemes aim at production of international grade silk of 4A and above to minimise imports to bare minimum.
The schemes are expected to generate additional employment to about 15 lakh persons, taking the number of people engaged in the silk industry to 10 million by end of March 2020 from the level of 8.51 million in 2016-17.
The details of funds sanctioned/ allocated and utilised under “Silk Samagra” scheme during the years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 in the country including Tamil Nadu are given below:
The details of funds released in respect of Tamil Nadu State under “Silk Samagra” towards implementation of various beneficiary oriented components during 2017-18 and 2018-19 are given below:
Sericulture is an agro-based cottage industry having huge employment and income generating potential in rural and semi-urban areas. It is estimated that sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 9.12 million persons (including 3.40 lakh persons in Tamil Nadu) in rural and semi-urban areas in the country as of March-2019. Of these, a sizeable number belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. This is mainly due to implementation of government schemes and efforts made by state and central governments.
The main aim of “Silk Samagra” scheme is to empower downtrodden, poor and backward tribal families through various activities of sericulture in the country, including women. Women constitute over 60 per cent of those employed in various activities of sericulture like mulberry garden management, leaf harvesting and silkworm rearing etc. Even silk reeling industry, including weaving, is largely supported by them.
An average of 30 per cent women beneficiaries are being covered under the Silk Samagra. Women SHGs are involved in implementation of various beneficiary oriented components under Silk Samagra, specially group activities. Through beneficiary oriented components of the scheme, support has been extended under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) to take up sericulture activities by tribal for their livelihood. The scheme as employment provider tool has helped improve the living standards and economic conditions of the poor, backward and tribal families by taking up various sericulture activities to support their livelihood.
