The decision was announced at a news conference here, by Mr KS Eswarappa chairman, CSB, and Karnataka Sericulture Minister M Mahadev after a meeting. MrEswarappa said the CSB proposed to start such a joint initiative in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala. He said the CSB, which was till now focusing on research, would now onwards give priority to extending silk production areas in the country. MrEswarappa said India might not face problem with removal of quantitative restrictions under the WTO regime, with efforts being made in the country to enhance silk production and its quality.

Listing the initiatives taken by the state government, Mr Mahadev said it had been decided to enhance the cost of `Reshme Samathu' project, aimed at overall development of the sericulture sector, from Rs 500 crore to Rs. 1,000 crore.

He urged the CSB to bear 50 per cent of its cost, adding, the government was also seeking a loan from Nabard. Karnataka, he noted, accounted for 60 per cent (8,121 metric tonne) of the country's annual total production of 14,000 tonne.