Three traditional silk states – Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Tamil Nadu (TN) have chalked out plans to increase their bivoltine raw silk production in 11th five year plan.
According to official sources, Central Silk Board (CSB), has set a target to increase bivoltine silk production to 5,000 tonne per annum at the end of 11th plan period from the current 1,095 tonne.
The CSB anticipates to achieve 90% of its target from TN, AP and Karnataka.
AP has set a higher target to increase its bivoltine raw silk production to 2,000 tonne per annum during the 11th plan period from 193 tonne in the financial year 2006-07.
To achieve the target, the state has decided to increase its cocoon production to 12,000 tonne per annum at the end of the plan period from 3,150 tonne in the current fiscal, CSB sources said.
The Karnataka state government has fixed a target to push up bivoltine raw silk production to 1,500 tonne per annum during the plan period from 358 tonne in 2006-07 by creating new sericulture clusters in non-traditional parts of the state. The state is likely to increase the area covered under sericulture to 1.30 lakh hectares during 11th plan period from the current 97,647 hectares.
TN also has big plans to promote bivoltine sericulture by following ?cluster approach? to expand its mulberry area.
The government has identified 43 clusters.
Although not official, TN is expected to increase its bivoltine raw silk production to more than 1,500 tonne per annum during 11th plan period from 296 tonne in 2006-07.