Integrated scheme for development of silk industry approved

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry.

According to the CCEA, a total allocation of Rs 2,161.68 crore has been approved for the implementation of the scheme for three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The scheme is expected to increase the silk production from the level of 30,348 MTs during 2016-17 to 38,500 MTs by end of 2019-20.

"The core objective of the scheme is to improve the productivity and quality of silk through R&D intervention," an official statement said.

"The focus of R&D intervention is to promote improved cross­breed silk... so that Bivotine silk production in India enhances to such a level that raw silk imports become nil by 2022 thereby making India self-sufficient in silk."

Besides, the approved proposal includes provision for brand promotion of Indian silk through quality certification by "Silk Mark".

--IANS

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