Lok Sabha Question No. 4642 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-15
Subject: Import of Silk
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## IMPORT OF SILK

## 4642.   SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantum of silk imported during each of the last three years and the current  year;
- (b) the custom duty on silk during the said period;
- (c) whether the Government plans to bring down the import of silk to zero by 2020;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to improve the quality of silk being produced in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी (

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): The details of silk  and  silk  products  imported  into  the  country  during  last  three  years  and  the current year are given below:-
- (b): The details of custom duty on silk during three years and the current year are given below:-

| Silk &Silk Products Imported during last three years and current year Value: In Crore Rs.   | Silk &Silk Products Imported during last three years and current year Value: In Crore Rs.   | Silk &Silk Products Imported during last three years and current year Value: In Crore Rs.   | Silk &Silk Products Imported during last three years and current year Value: In Crore Rs.   | Silk &Silk Products Imported during last three years and current year Value: In Crore Rs.   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Items                                                                                       | 2013-14                                                                                     | 2014-15                                                                                     | 2015-16                                                                                     | 2016-17 (April-Sept.)                                                                       |
| Raw Silk                                                                                    | 896.44                                                                                      | 970.82                                                                                      | 1006.16                                                                                     | 559.75                                                                                      |
| Silk Yarn                                                                                   | 100.07                                                                                      | 103.78                                                                                      | 81.66                                                                                       | 37.04                                                                                       |
| Fabrics &Made ups                                                                           | 315.32                                                                                      | 239.01                                                                                      | 249.46                                                                                      | 113.15                                                                                      |
| Total                                                                                       | 1311.83                                                                                     | 1313.61                                                                                     | 1337.28                                                                                     | 709.94                                                                                      |

Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata

| Year                                                  | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   | 2016-17   |
|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Basic Custom Duty on imported Raw Silk& Silk Yarn (%) | 15%       | 15%       | 10%       | 10%       |

(c) to (e): Government has taken several measures to progressively  reduce import of raw silk  & silk yarn to improve the quality of silk as given in Annexure-A .

## )

## 1. Measures taken by the Government to bring down the import of silk to zero by 2020

-  Research  &  Development  and  effective  transfer  of  technology  at  all  stages  for  increasing production  of  import  substitute  bivoltine  silk,  improving  productivity,  quality  and  reducing the cost of production.
-  Implementation  of  Integrated  Scheme  for  development  of  silk  industry  under  the  Central Sector Scheme (CSS) through Central Silk Board (CSB) for extending support to the farmers and reelers to improve the production and quality of silk in the country.
-  Mobilizing  additional  funds  by  Central  Silk  Board  and  State  Governments  for  sericulture development through convergence by availing the schemes such as MGNREGA, RKVY etc., being implemented by various other Ministries of Government of India.
-  Implementation  of  Cluster  Promotion  Programme  for  promotion  of  bivoltine  silk  through Central Silk Board.
-  Providing  support  through  CSB  and  State  Governments  for  technology  transfer,  capacity building, training, input delivery, marketing facilities etc., for farmers and reelers.
-  Establishment  of  Automatic  Reeling  Units  for  production  of  3A-4A  grade  raw  silk  from bivoltine hybrid cocoons to meet the demand for gradable raw silk
-  Thrust to improve technologies, diversify products and designs to expand the export share of the country.

## 2. Initiatives taken by the Government through Central Silk Board to improve the quality of silk in the country

## (i) Production of Bivoltine Silk:

-  Strengthening  the  Research  &  Development  system  to  improve  the  levels  of  cocoon production and productivity
-  During  XII  Plan,  176  clusters  have  been  organized  under  Cluster  Promotion  Programme (CPP) to augment the production of bivoltine silk production in the country. Bivoltine silk production has increased from 1,685 MTs in 2011-12 to 4,613 MTs during 2015-16.
-  Improved  mulberry varieties  viz.  V1,  G4,  G2  have  been  developed  to  promote  Bivoltine sericulture.
-  Bivoltine hybrids like CSR2 x CSR4, CSR16 x CSR17, FC1xFC2 & FC3xFC4 have been developed and are being used for production of better quality BV silk in Southern region through-out the year.  Two new bivoltine hybrids viz., G11xG19 and B.con1xB.con4 with better yield and adaptation are under popularisation.
-  Cold Storage facilities and Bivoltine grainages have been strengthened to produce quality Bivoltine silkworm seed.
-  Silkworm  Seed  Act  is  being  implemented  to  bring  quality  standards  in  silkworm  seed production to improve the productivity and quality of silk.
-  Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture project at a total cost of Rs.236.78 Cr. implemented in eight North Eastern States from 2015-16 exclusively to promote Bivoltine silk, under NERTPS.
-  Automatic Reeling Units are set up in the country for production of 3A-4A grade raw silk from bivoltine hybrid cocoons.

## (ii) Production of Vanya Silk (Muga, Eri and Tasar):

-  Integrated  Sericulture  Development  Project  (ISDP):  Under  North  Eastern  Region-Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), Government has approved 14 Sericulture Project with a total cost of Rs. 523.33 crore (GoI share of Rs. 423.33 crores) for implementation in NE States viz., Assam, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura to promote Vanya Silk.
-  CSB  has  developed  latest  technology  packages,  improved  farm  machineries,  indigenous automatic reeling units, Vanya silk reeling and spinning units to reduce drudgery and improve quality and productivity of Vanya silk.