Odisha state government has been urged by the Centre to submit proposals for development of Silk Industry under the newly formed ‘Central Sector Schemes (CCS). Under the CSS the state will get Rs6.3 crore for development of sericulture in the State during 2017-18, Chairman of Central Silk Board (CSB) KM Hanumantharayappa said.

Hanumantharayappa during his five day stay visited different silk clusters in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts and interacted with tasar and mulberry farmers. He encouraged them to go for more mulberry farming as it is priced high compared to other silks available in the country.

Though Odisha is a predominately tasar producing State as its rich endowment of forest, east coast and tribal population enhance agro-climatic condition for tasar forestry, it has vast potential for mulberry and eri silks. Both can be promoted in coastal areas.

The CSB chairman said that the Ministry of Textiles has been providing research and development support besides funding and technical knowhow to the State. Expressing displeasure over lack of participation of farmers from the State during farmers training programmes, he urged them to come forward and take advantage of the schemes.

Since the State is now getting the eri basic seed from Assam and Tamil Nadu, the board has planned to open a seed farm at Koraput. Two clusters at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar and Kashipur in Rayagada district are being implemented as they are focusing more to increase production of mulberry,” Hanumantharayappa informed.

As many as 20,000 tribal families in the State are practicing sericulture of which more than 16,000 are tasar farmers and 500 mulberry farmers. About 90 percent of the total silk produced in Odisha is from tasar. Of 125 tonne of silk produced in the State last year, 115 tonne was tasar silk. Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh are three major tasar producing districts as those contribute 90 percent of tasar silk production in the State.

As per an estimation, while Karnataka is producing 60 percent of mulberry, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra contribute 10 percent each and the rest is contributed by Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and other states.