Lok Sabha Question No. 199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Import of Silk
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.199 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## IMPORT OF SILK

## 199. DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

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

- (a) the quantity of silk imported during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the details of custom duty imposed on silk during the above period;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any measures to improve the quality of indigenous silk; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी ( )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): The quantity of silk imported into the country during last three years and the current year are given below:-
- (b): The details of custom duty on silk during the above period is given below:-
- (c) & (d): The measures taken by the Government to improve the quality of indigenous silk are given in Annexure-A .

| Silk Imported during last three years and current year   | Silk Imported during last three years and current year   | Silk Imported during last three years and current year   | Silk Imported during last three years and current year   | Silk Imported during last three years and current year   |
|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| Years                                                    | 2013-14                                                  | 2014-15                                                  | 2015-16                                                  | Quantity in MTs 2016-17 (April-Nov.)                     |
| Quantity of Raw Silk Import                              | 3,260                                                    | 3,489                                                    | 3,529                                                    | 2,536                                                    |

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

## Annexure-A

## Measures taken by the Government through Central Silk Board to improve the quality of indigenous silk in the country

- (i) Production of Bivoltine Silk: Bivoltine silk is  the  high  quality  mulberry  silk produced in India as an import substitute silk. The following measures are taken to produce Bivoltine silk in India:-
-  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 North Eastern Region-Textiles Promotion Scheme (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 RegionTextiles 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.