With the global inter-governmental body International Sericultural Commission (ISC) moving its headquarters to India from France for the first time since its formation in the 1960s, India is expected to get access to wider genetic resources available globally for increasing domestic silk production.
According to Ishita Roy, secretary general, ISC, the country’s annual demand of silk is around 36,000 tonne against the domestic production of 26,000 tonne.
?With access to genetic resources from other silk-producing countries, we are aiming at bridging the annual demand and supply gap to around 5,000 tonne during next few years,? Roy told FE.
She said India is gearing up for production of quality silk of international grade by getting the best available genetic material of mulberry plants and silkworms from Japan and Thailand.
?This will help increase the production of quality silk, give a fillip to exports and improve economic conditions of all silk-growers,? Roy noted.
As per official data, annual silk output has increased from 18,300 tonne in the 10th Five-Year Plan to 23,000 tonne by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan. Silk production is set to increase to 32,000 tonne during the next few years.
Meanwhile, the government has unveiled ?Silk mark India fusion label? for the global market. This would protect the purity of silk while checking counterfeits and promote Indian silk products in domestic and global markets. Japan International Cooperation Agency has been a long-term partner of the Central Silk Board for furthering development of sericulture in India.