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Shri Shankersinh Vaghela, Ministr of Textiles in a written statement informed Rajya Sabha today that the Government has instituted several measures to counter the threat of cheaper silk from China. Steps are also being taken to check the reduction in the domestic production of Mulberry raw silk during the last two years. The Minister informed Rajya Sabha that the decline had been due to continuous drought conditions prevailing in traditional sericulture States from 2002-03 and 2003-04. However, there was no decline in non-mulberry raw silk production during the same period. The major steps taken by the Centre to give boost to silk production and silk products are:
Research and Development efforts of Central Silk Board have been stepped up to improve quantity, quality and productivity of sericulture, by evolution of more productive and stress tolerant breeds and hybrids of mulberry and non-mulberry food plants and silkworms; and development of low cost reeling and processing technologies in silk;
Seed Support & Technical Assistance is being given by the Central Silk Board to State Governments, farmers & reelers by maintenance of parent races and basic seed, supply of commercial seed, and augmentation of grainage facilities for production of disease free high yielding and drought resistant seed;
Central assistance is being extended to states through Centrally Sponsored & Central sector schemes to strengthen farm infrastructure, increase area under sericulture, upgrade reeling facilities, improve finishing processes, strengthen cocoon & silk testing systems;
Low cost and productivity enhancing technologies developed by the Central Silk Board are being popularized through central assistance to beneficiaries, training to the State’ extension machinery and beneficiaries, organizing of various awareness programmes, etc;
For technology upgradation of the indigenous silk industry loan at 5 per cent point less than applicable bank rate, under the Technological Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) for the textiles sector is available inter alia to silk sector.
Supply chain issues between the farmers, raw silk producers and the weavers are being addressed by advocating contract farming models, price linked grading etc.
An amount of Rs.450 crores has been provided in the X Plan for the Sericulture sector to support the above strategy & programmes;
Antidumping duty has been imposed by Government of India with effect from 2nd January, 2003 on all imported mulberry raw silk (not thrown) of international grade 2A and below, originated in or exported from People’s Republic of China, so as to keep the landed value of these goods at US$ 27.97 per kg.
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