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CHAPTER VIII Sericulture Introduction India continues to be the second largest producer of silk in the
world and has the distinction of producing all the four varieties of
silk. Among the four varieties
of silk produced, in 1999-2000, mulberry accounted for 91.7%, eri 6.4%, tasar
1.4% and muga 0.5% of the total raw silk production in the country. Sericulture is an important labour-intensive and agro-based
cottage industry, providing gainful occupation to about 64 lakh persons in
the rural and semi-urban areas in India. Of these, a sizeable number of
workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society. There is substantial involvement of
women in this industry. Production Production, employment and exports during the year showed
increase, as follows: Silk Exports
Total silk export earnings during the years 1997-98, 1998-99,
1999-00 and 2000 - 01 (April to December) are as follows : (Rs. In crore)
* Direct exports
without Central Silk Board
certification under DEPB Schemes. Work relating to sericulture and silk is carried out by the
Ministry mainly through the efforts of the Central Silk Board (CSB), working
closely with the State Departments of Sericulture & the Silk
Industry. In addition, there is
the Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (ISEPC), to promote export of silk. CENTRAL SILK BOARD The Central Silk Board was set up in 1949 when Central Government
assumed responsibility for the development of the silk industry by Parliament
passing the Central Silk Board Act, 1948. Headquartered at Bangalore, and headed by a Chairman and
35 members, the Board’s works is in the 3 broad areas of Research &
Technology Development, Seed Maintenance, and Development of Sericulture
& Silk Industry, to support, supplement & facilitate the efforts of
the State Governments. Research And Development The main Research & Training Institutes of the CSB function
to provide R&D and Training support for the development of sericulture.
The Institutes at Mysore (Karnataka), Berhampore (West Bengal) and Pampore
(J&K) deal with mulberry sericulture and the one at Ranchi (Bihar) deals
with Tasar. A main Research Institute has been established at Ladoigarh
Jorhat (Assam) for Muga and Eri.
Regional Sericultural Research Stations (RSRS/RTRS) for mulberry and
non-mulberry have been functioning for the dissemination of research findings
and tackling the regional field issues of the industry. Besides, a network of
Research Extension Centres (RECs) for mulberry and non-mulberry are also
functioning to provide extension support to sericulturists. In order to provide R&D support
in post-cocoon processing, the Board has established a Central Silk Technological
Research Institute (CSTRI) at Bangalore. In addition, the CSB has also set up
a Silkworm Seed Technology Laboratory (SSTL) in Bangalore (Karnataka), a
Central Sericultural Germplasm Resources Centre (CSGRC) at Hosur, (Tamil
Nadu) and a Seri-Biotech Research Laboratory (SBRL) at Bangalore. Research work on the on-farm side continued to be directed mainly
at (i) evolving stress tolerant mulberry, eri and muga plant varieties, which
give high leaf yield, breeding superior silkworm races; (ii) evolving
improved techniques of silkworm rearing to give higher productivities; and
(iii) control of pests and diseases of both plant and silkworms. During the
year 2000-2001, 4 mulberry silkworm hybrids were developed and are put under
field trial at 25 Race Authorization Test Centres. On the post-cocoon side The Central Silk Technological Research
Institute, Bangalore has developed a multiend reeling package for reeling
quality silk from bivoltine and crossbreed cocoons. It has also fabricated a low-cost multifuel drying
chamber, a tail end cutter and slit buttons; cooking technologies of
different commercial tasar cocoons for reeling on tasar reeling charkha
(TRC); low-cost improved pedal-cum-motorised reeling-cum-twisting devices for
tasar and muga; and improved spinning wheel for muga and eri, which will
produce better quality silk/spun yarn with less wastage, thereby fetching
higher income. Seed Maintainence The National Silkworm Seed Project (NSSP) has been entrusted with
the responsibility of production of quality Silkworm Seed. During 2000-2001 (upto
Nov.2000)143.46 lakh dfls (disease free layings) were produced under
NSSP. Also in the year 2000-2001
(upto Dec’00) 9.17 lakh tasar basic seed, 0.304 lakh oak tasar basic seed and 1.42 lakh muga basic seed have been produced and supplied by CSB units to State
Departments for further multiplication.
The muga and eri Silkworm Seed Production Centres (SSPCs) have
produced 0.96 lakh & 0.24 lakh commercial seeds respectively during the
year 2000-01 (Upto Dec’ 2000).
Training CSB organizes a number of training programmes at its Research and
Training Institutes. The total
number of persons trained during 1999-2000 and 2000-O1 (upto Sept’ 2000) is detailed in
Table 8.1 Table 8.1
Development Schemes and
Programmes Development schemes & programmes supported by the CSB include
those which are fully funded by the Centre, those financed by Centre and
State both, and those which are externally assisted. Progress during the year in the main
schemes is briefly given below: Catalytic Development
Scheme Thirty six catalytic schemes of the CSB were approved at a cost
of Rs. 89.27 crore for the IX Plan These are targetted to motivate State efforts
towards productivity, quality and market support. Central Silk Board has so far received and approved upto
December’ 2000, a total number of 285 micro projects for implementation at a
total cost of Rs. 99.25 crore of which CSB’s share is Rs.54.77 crore. The
States have initiated implementation of these schemes in 1998-99 and 206
micro projects/ proposals have been implemented. The CSB has released/spent till December,2000 Rs.21.94 crore to the States for
implementation of these Micro projects. The United Nation’s
Development Programme (UNDP) The UNDP in collaboration with Govt. of India has initiated a Sub-programme on development of
Non-mulberry silk - tasar, muga and eri - in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Orissa, Meghalaya, Nagaland and West Bengal under Fibres and Handicrafts
Programme (FHAP) of Country Co-operation Frame Work - 1 (CCF-1) with a total out lay of Rs.1199 lakh, of which
Govt. of India share is Rs. 398 lakh and UNDP share is Rs.801 lakh for a period of three
years from 1999-2000. The Central Silk Board is implementing the Sub-programme which
aims to increase quality egg production and supply, impart necessary training
and skill up-gradation to the farmers particularly women in good management
practices, provide technological support in pre-cocoon and post cocoon
processes including reeling, spinning and processing of silk through pilot
initiatives and provide replicable models of entrepreneurship. Design
upgradation and marketing assistance, Human Resource Development (HRD) are
also built in the sub-programme structure. The targeted beneficiaries largely
belonging to weaker sections of the society have been grouped into co-operatives, women
groups, self help groups etc. involving NGOs. Nearly, 10,000 beneficiaries are proposed to be
covered with an estimated direct employment generation of 3.5 lakh man years.
The expected production of tasar raw silk is 42 tonnes, tasar spun silk 19
tonnes, muga raw silk 16 tonnes, muga spun silk 13 tonnes, eri spun silk 293
tonnes and eri pupae 2232 tonnes through this programme. The project outlay is indicated in the Table 8.2. Table 8.2.
During 2000-01 upto February, an amount of Rs. 4.20 Crore and
Rs.1.41 crore has been released under UNDP component and Government of India
share resepectively. The cumulative
releases are Rs.5.10 crore and Rs.2.24 crore under UNDP component and
Government of India share respectively.
Private grainages have been set up, improved reeling & spinning
technologies have been adopted, and work for product development has begun. Japan International
Cooperative Agency(JICA) Assisted Bivoltine Project The first phase of JICA assisted Bivoltine Sericulture Technology
Development Project (BSTD) was implemented from 1991 to 1997.During this
phase, JICA has made available 12 long-term experts, 28 short term experts
and trained 28 counterparts, apart from providing equipment valued about 321
million Japanese Yen.With the implementation of this project, a comprehensive
practical Bivoltine Sericulture Technology suitable to Indian conditions has
been developed. The second phase of the JICA assisted Project for Promotion of
Popularising the Practical Bivoltine Sericulture Technology (PPPBST) of 5
years duration is being implemented from 1st April 1997 for field
verification and demonstration of Bivoltine technologies evolved in the first
phase. JICA has made available so far the services of 1 Team
Leader,1Co-ordinator, 9 Long Term experts,20 Short Term experts and accepted
30 Indian scientists for training under the counterpart training component.
In the year 1997-98,two bivoltine technology verification trials, in 1998-99,
three trials, in 1999-2000,
three trials and in 2000-01(up to December’00) three bivoltine technology
verification trials with the identified farmers were conducted. The
performance of these Bivoltine races
has been good and the
average yield is over 60Kg/100 Dfls, a renditta of 6-7 Kgs and a high
quality 2A-4A grade rawsilk has
been obtained consistently. With the success achieved, the project
implementation has been extended to the states of Tamilnadu and Andhra
Pradesh. The experience is being
used to design a programme to
take bivoltine sericulture to scale. M.P. Sericulture Project The project is being implemented by DOS, MP in collaboration with
Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Government of
India. The project cost is
Rs.117.10 crore for first phase and Rs.631.70 crore for second phase. The first phase is for 7 years and the second phase 5
years. The project commenced from
1.4.98. Its objective is to
raise 4000 ha of tasar plantation covering 4000 beneficiaries; achieve
production of 75 MT of raw silk and 22.5 MT of Spun Silk Yarn annually from
4th year; and give employment for 10,000 persons. As on 19.05.2000 plantation was raised in 830 ha and an amount of
Rs.483.81 lakh was
incurred. The bifurcation
of the State of M.P. has transferred the main area of the Project to
Chattisgarh. Manipur Sericulture
Project This project is being implemented by DOS, Manipur in collaboration
with Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Government of
India. The outlay is Rs.134.52
crore for first phase and Rs.356.09 crore for second phase to be implemented
over a period 7 years and 5 years respectively. The project commenced from 28.7.98. The objectives are raising of 1020 ha
of mulberry plantation covering
3000 beneficiaries; achieve production of 60 MT of raw silk annually from 4th year; and provision of
employment for 7000 persons. As on 31.5.2000 the
consultant engineers in collaboration with DOS staff have completed
topographical survey and Mapping of Development Schemes areas at 13 locations
and submitted draft drawing for 9 locations. 3 Field
Operation Units have been formed and one model rearing house has been constructed at Sangaithel
Pilot Scheme. 4800 dfls of P2 silkworms has been
reared under multiplication of hybrid silkworm eggs scheme. SERI 2000 Under an agreement entered into with Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation
(SDC), SERI-2000 programme between 1997-2002 at an outlay of Rs.12.5 million
Swiss Francs is being implemented.
The programme covers projects both in public and private sector in
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The Govt. of India through the participating
institutions provides facilities, personnel and services as per the
requirement of the programme.
The aim is to generate viable enterprises, employment and sustainable
income, primarily for the weaker sections of the population, including women,
in rural and semi-urban areas. As on December’2000, 35 project proposals under private Sector at
an outlay of Rs.1027.14 lakh have been approved. Under public sector, 22 projects at an outlay of Rs.841.16
lakh have been approved. Budget For the year 2000-01, a provision of Rs.72/- crores under plan
and Rs.15.30 crores under non plan and Rs.4.20 crores for UNDP externally
aided non-mulberry silk sub-programme have been made for CSB. The entire provision has been
released and will be utilised. Miscellaneous To plan for optimal use of infrastructure created under the
National Sericulture Project (1989-1996), and reassess the manpower
requirements of CSB, Ministry of Textiles had commissioned a study by
National Institute of Science Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS).
NISTADS submitted its final report on “Optimum utilization of
Infrastructure and Manpower in CENTRAL SILK BOARD “ to the Ministry. The Ministry in turn constituted a
Committee under the Chairmanship
of Addl Secretary & Financial Adviser. The report submitted by the
Committee is under consideration for restructuring the Central Silk Board to
enhance the role of private sector and increase the role and responsibility
of the state Governments for all-round development of silk industry in the
years to come to bridge the gap between the availability and demand for silk
in the country. INDIAN SILK EXPORT
PROMOTION COUNCIL The Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (ISEPC), Mumbai continues to undertake
activities relating to promotion of exports of natutal silk goods from India
and to act as the registering authority for silk exporters. The Council produces and disseminates
information to its members about market developments in the world, changes in
the trade policies etc. through
its weekly bulletin known as the “Silk Net”. The silk sample catalogues containing sample swatches of
the full range of silks available in India brought out by the Council are
available to potential buyer, importing textile agents and Indian Missions
abroad. The Council participated
in Pret-a-Porter Fair, Paris, (Sep 8-11-2000) and TIP 8 fair, Brussels
(September 9-12-2000). To enable exporters of silk goods access to quality silk at international
prices, the Government has allowed silk exporters the facility to import raw
material requirements on duty-free basis under the Advance Licensing Scheme
(ALS). In addition to this,
imports of raw silk of Grade 2 A and above was brought under Canalization by
designated agencies to make available quality silk for warp yarn in power
loom as also for handloom units.
The liberalized input output norms continued in the current policy
with a marginal increase for garments exports. Rationalized value addition continued without any
change. Under EPCG “Zero
Duty Scheme”, the threshold level for duty exemption on import of capital
goods is Rs.1 crore. In the current year, import of silk is allowed under Special
Import License (SIL). Under Advanced Licensing, the Duty Exemption scheme is
made on actual user condition. However, a new scheme called Duty Free
Replenishment Certificate is introduced, to enable import of raw silk by silk
exporters. Import of capital goods for silk industries is allowed without any
threshold limit but with lower import duty. |
