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CCEA Approves Integrated Scheme For Development Of Silk Industry

• By  Textile Excellence
• February 19, 2018

Govt took a big step in making India self-sufficient in silk production. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said the decisions taken by the cabinet will lead to the formation of a first ever inter-ministerial panel to boost R&D & technology transfer in the silk sector with a Rs 1,000 crore fund.

In a move that will significantly boost the domestic silk industry, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry for the next three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The Scheme has four components

• Research & Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and IT Initiatives
• Seed Organisations and farmers extension centres
• Coordination and Market Development for seed, yarn and silk products
• Quality Certification System by creating a chain of silk testing facilities, farm-based and post-cocoon technology upgradation, and export brand promotion

The scheme will promote women empowerment and livelihood opportunities to SC/ST and other weaker sections of the society. The scheme will help to increase productive employment from 85 lakhs to 1 crore persons by 2020

The scheme aims to:

• Achieve self-sufficiency in silk production by 2022
• Production of high grade silk in India will reach 20,650 MTs by 2022 from the current level of 11,326 MTs
• There is clear focus on improving production of highest grade quality of silk
• Brand promotion of Indian silk will be encouraged through quality certification by Silk Mark not only in the domestic market but in the export market

The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry through Central Silk Board. The scheme is expected to help the silk sector across the country, & more importantly, in NER and Kashmir. In Kashmir, the silk sector has been stagnating, with production at 175 metric tonnes.

With the new scheme, it is expected that Kashmir silk sector will achieve the target of 400 metric tonnes by 2030.                            

Textile Excellence