Silk industry meet to blend old with new

Ancient knowledge and modern technology are being weaved together at a two-day national conference on 'IT For Silk Industry' in Mysore commencing from December 16.

Organised by the Computer Society of India (CSI), Mysore chapter, and the Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) at the latter's campus on Manandavadi Road, Srirampura, here, the conference will address the integration of market information on aspects like quality, types, price and stocks available at various locations, logistics of time from order to delivery, research findings aimed at empowering the producers of silk, technology, machinery and its related issues.

It will be discussed during the four sessions on using IT in silk industry, right from mulberry farming to cocoon cultivation, silk production to marketing, thus covering the entire gamut of silk industry, from cultivation to marketing, CSI national president M L Ravi and CSRTI director Dr S B Dandin said at a press conference.

Experts from both silk and IT industry, including some delegates from abroad, will participate in the sessions and discuss how best IT can be integrated with the ancient art and production of silk.

Their discussion will go a long way in exploring the scope and opportunities available for the silk sector to harness the potential of application of IT in the silk sector.

The deliberations will also help analyse the problems confronting the silk industry, make realistic estimates on the future demand, cut costs of production, integrate modern research, know-how and technology at different levels and also help formulate appropriate policies at the government levels.

Though India is the second largest producer of silk, with production touching 17,550 metric tonnes, the sector has many shortcomings.

India's production is short by nearly 24,000 metric tonnes. As there is an increasing demand for silk in the country, bringing IT into the sector can help fill the gap by boosting silk production, Dr Dandin said.