Develop land proposed for Bidadi township as special mulberry zone to boost silk production: MP Dr. C.N. Manjunath

Adding a new dimension to farmers’ resistance to buy their land for the Bidadi District project, Bengaluru Rural MP Dr. CN Manjunath on Friday, October 24, 2025, suggested that this region, known for its robust sericulture farming, should be declared as a Special Mulberry Zone with measures to further increase silk production.

Dr. Manjunath made this suggestion at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Central Silk Board – National Silkworm Seed Organization (CSB-NSSO) in Bengaluru, attended by policy makers, bureaucrats in the country’s sericulture sector, scientists and other stakeholders, including farmers.

A government cocoon market in Ramanagara. | Photo Credit: MA Sriram

woven into Indian traditions

Pointing out that silk has a similar craze and value to gold because it is an integral part of Indian traditions. Manjunath said there was a dire need to promote sericulture farming among farmers on a large scale to generate sustainable income. He said sericulture farming, with a production cycle of less than one month, has become an agricultural activity that generates regular income for farmers in these regions.

He said the authorities should further promote sericulture, take measures to double production for the sake of farmers’ sustainability, and close the gap between production and demand by creating special mulberry zones and connecting them as silk corridors.

He described Bidadi, Ramanagara, Anekal and other places prominent in sericulture as ideal places for establishment of special zones and silk corridor.

Bengaluru Rural MP Dr. C.N. Manjunath. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J

‘India’s Silk Valley’

He suggested that to overcome the shortage of space for township development, the government should adopt the Chinese development model based on vertical development.

Pointing out that rapid silk production takes place in places close to Bengaluru, Dr. Manjunath noted: “Bengaluru is not just the Silicon Valley of India, it is also the Silk Valley of India.”

He also suggested that spun silk units should be established to produce by-products of the approximately 6,400 tons of silk waste produced in the country every year.

Increase production

Releasing the souvenir mail cover brought on this occasion, Union Minister of State for MSMEs, Shobha Karandlaje, stated that despite all efforts, the country could only produce 41,000 tons of silk, whereas the real need was around 45,000 tons.

Visitors along with the sale of KSIC Mysore Silk Vintage Saree exhibition in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: SAMPATH KUMAR GP

Pointing out that the country was importing the remaining quantum of silk from China, she called upon scientists and farmers to take measures for boosting silk production with a focus on quality.

Observing that there was a worldwide demand for silk, particularly Indian silk due to its quality, she said, “In fact, we see women quarrelling to buy Mysuru Silk sarees due to short supply and even the women MPs from other areas are mesmerized over the quality of these sarees.”