Coastal Karnataka To Get Special Focus For Sericulture Expansion
Sericulture had once been widely practised in the coastal belt until about three decades ago: Reports
MANGALURU: Seeing sericulture as a viable alternative for arecanut farmers facing increasing stress in coastal Karnataka, the state government will give special focus to promoting silk farming in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh said on Wednesday.
Speaking after inaugurating the Dakshina Kannada district-level sericulture fair, the minister said sericulture had once been widely practised in the coastal belt until about three decades ago.
“With arecanut cultivation gradually declining in parts of the region, the government plans to encourage farmers to take up mulberry cultivation and silk farming on a larger scale. All necessary support would be provided to sericulture farmers, including free saplings, equipment, fertilisers and subsidy assistance through the Department of Sericulture,” he said.
He noted that modern sericulture practices are now more advanced and easier compared to traditional methods followed earlier. Technical guidance and assistance would also be provided to farmers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts who are willing to venture into silk farming, he added.
The minister also announced that additional officers and staff would be appointed to the Sericulture Department in Dakshina Kannada district.
Describing silk as one of Karnataka’s major crops, the minister said sericulture is already being practised extensively in north Karnataka.
He said silk cocoon procurement centres and markets would be established wherever necessary. Existing procurement centres at Ramanagara, Sidlaghatta and Kollegal have already been strengthened and developed, he added.
The government is also providing transport assistance of Rs 30 per kilogram for transporting silk cocoons to markets, he said.
He said that while China had once been the leading silk producer in the world, India has now emerged as the top producer. Mysore Silk sarees continue to witness huge demand globally, and production is still unable to meet market requirements, he added.
According to the minister, silk cocoons are currently fetching between Rs 600 and Rs 700 per kilogram in the market, with farmers earning profits of nearly Rs 300 per kilogram. He urged farmers to increasingly adopt sericulture in view of its profitability.
Joint Director of the Sericulture Department Prathibha B R said the department has set a target of bringing nearly 50 acres under sericulture cultivation in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Subsidies of up to Rs 1 lakh are being provided for construction of silkworm rearing sheds, apart from subsidies for equipment and machinery, she said