Jharkhand tussar to get ‘organic silk’ label

Jharkhand has achieved the distinction of procuring, for the first time in the country, an ‘organic silk’ registration for the tussar silk produced in its Kharswan-Kuchai region. The state, leading in India’s production of ‘tussar’ silk, is also on the course to double its production to more than 300 tonne from 150 tonne produced last year.

With around 3,300 farmers engaged in production of around 3 crore tussar silk cocoons, the Kharswan-Kuchai region, apart from leading in tussar production, also delivers the best variety. To fetch a better price for producers and weavers of this region, the state had launched a pilot project that involved labeling the produce as ‘organic tussar’.

Earlier this month, tussar silk of the region had received certification from US?based Onecert Asia (accredited to Agricultural & Processed Food Export Products Export Development Authority).

“The ‘organic silk’ certification would not only help 3,300 tussar silk farmers as well as the weavers of the region fetch an additional 30% to 50% value on their produce, but would also throw up new opportunities in the export market,” said Dhirendra Kumar, director of the Jharkhand handloom, sericulture & handicraft department.

Starting with production of around 7.11 lakh basic disease free larvae (DFL) in Jharkhand so far, which in turn had resulted in the production of around 45 lakh commercial DFL, the state is on way to produce more than 300 tonne of tussar silk this year.

The department has established 50 centres in the Singhbhum belt for production of tussar silk from cocoons. Each of these centres has employed to around 30 women who have received training with government help.

“Each trained woman is earning as much as Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per month by extracting silk from the cocoon,” said Kumar.

He said the state would have no problem in marketing or exporting its production.

In order to see that there is value-addition in the state itself, Jharkhand has started three such centres, including one at Kharswan with the help of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata and another at Baggaia in Godda district with the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.