Silk sector urged to raise production quality

Delivering the valedictory address of the 20th Congress of the International Sericultural Commission here, the Union minister of state for planning, M V Rajashekaran said, "In the era of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with liberalised trade policies, India has to change its production and quality standards if it has to survive in the global silk market."

The minister urged that non-government organisations' (NGO) help should also be taken, for they can contribute significantly by organising supply of inputs such as suitable mulberry varieties, fertilisers and pesticides.

They can also initiate sericulture service centres and mobilise government resources for the benefit of farmers.

Calling upon sericulture researchers, the minister said farmer friendly technologies should be developed to achieve the 8,500 tonne target of Bivoltine silk, set for the eleventh five year plan. Of the total 117,042 tonne world raw silk production, India's share is just 13.5 per cent, while China dominates the scene with an 81 per cent share.

Union joint secretary for silk, B P Singh said that after the imposition of anti-dumping duty, silk smuggling has come down drastically. Also, farmers are getting better prices - $27.97 in 2005 - compared to $10 during the peak period of silk smuggling and dumping from neighbouring countries.

After the imposition of anti-dumping duty on Chinese raw silk, now large quantities of Chinese silk fabrics are being dumped into the country at less than domestic prices, hitting silk weavers. This is being taken up by the board. It is in the process of identifying the entities and taking action.

According to H Hanumanthappa, chairman of the Central Silk Board, Rs 350 crore has been collected as anti-dumping duty, on account of silk by the Central government so far.

Urging the Union government to announce farmer friendly measures, Hanumanthappa said that sericulture cultivation is not covered under the crop insurance scheme, which is needed urgently to protect farmers against losses caused by the vagaries of the weather and also pest attacks on silkworms.

Also, the sericulture industry is not covered under market intervention and fixing of minimum support price. State governments need to urgently look into such issues, the chairman of the silk board added.