The Centre has announced that sericulture and allied activities will be eligible to get funds under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as the new scheme will now cover sericulture upto the stage of cocoon production along with extension system for cocoon production and silk yarn production in an agri enterprise.
"The benefits of RKVY can now be availed for improvement of sericulture extension system, enhancement of soil health development of rain fed sericulture and for integrated pest management. This will help in improving silkworm seeds base and for mechanisation of the sector," a government statement said.
Inclusion of sericulture under the scheme will also provide support for development of market infrastructure with promotion of Seri enterprise, the release added.
Under the new guidelines, projects can be taken up to support non-farm activities and special schemes can be sanctioned to beneficiaries of land reforms such as marginal and small farmers to maximise return to the sericulture sector.
"Extension of the benefit is likely to give a significant boost to the sericulture activities, which was witnessing a declining trend for the last few years in the absence of attractive price and adequate incentive support system. Also, in the wake up proposed National Fibre Policy in which sericulture and silk have been given a lot more importanace, this scheme will give the much needed impetus," Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Textiles said.
He also said that production of raw silk in the country need to be launched on a higher growth projectile and the inclusion of this sector in RKVY would facilitate the process. He, however, urged the state governments to prepare projects and avail maximum benefits from the scheme for production of high-quality silk to consolidate India's position in the international market.
RKVY, which was introduced during XI plan as an additional central assistance scheme to incentivise the states, has the objective of promoting public investment in agriculture and allied sectors.