Coastal Karnataka To Get Special Focus For Sericulture Expansion
-Mangaluru: Seeing sericulture as a viable alternative for arecanut farmers facing increasing stress in coastal Karnataka, the state government will give special emphasis on promoting silk farming in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh said on Wednesday.
Speaking after the inauguration of the Dakshina Kannada district level sericulture fair, the minister said sericulture was widely practiced in the coastal belt until about three decades ago.
“As arecanut cultivation is gradually declining in some parts of the region, the government plans to encourage farmers to take up mulberry cultivation and sericulture on a larger scale. Sericulture farmers will be provided with all necessary support, including free saplings, equipment, fertilizers and subsidy assistance through the Department of Sericulture,” he said.
He noted that modern sericulture practices are now more advanced and easier than the traditional methods practiced before. Technical guidance and assistance will be provided to farmers who want to venture into silk farming in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, he added.
The minister also announced that additional officers and staff will be appointed in the Sericulture Department in Dakshina Kannada district.
Explaining that silk is one of the major crops of Karnataka, the minister said sericulture is already widely practiced in north Karnataka.
He said that silk cocoon purchasing centers and markets will be established where needed. He added that the existing procurement centers at Ramanagara, Sidlaghatta and Kollegal have already been strengthened and developed.
He said the government has also provided transportation assistance of Rs 30 per kilogram for transportation of silk cocoons to markets.
He said China was once the world’s leading producer of silk, while India has now become the number one producer. He added that Mysore Silk sarees continue to witness huge demand across the world and production is still unable to meet the market requirements.
According to the minister, silk cocoons are currently sold in the market for Rs 600 to Rs 700 per kilogram and farmers are making a profit of around Rs 300 per kilogram. He urged farmers to increasingly adopt sericulture keeping profitability in mind.
Prathibha BR, Joint Director, Sericulture Department, said that the department has set a target of creating an area of around 50 acres for sericulture cultivation in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
He said that apart from equipment and machinery subsidies, up to Rs 1 lakh subsidy has been provided for the construction of silkworm rearing sheds.
