Lok Sabha Question No. 2623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Promotion of Silk
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Harish Dwivedi

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## PROMOTION OF SILK

## 2623. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRI HARISH DWIVEDI:

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

- (a)  whether  producers  of  silk  and  other  silk  products  are  facing  difficulty  in  selling  their products in international market;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with any evaluation made in this regard;
- (c) the details of the exports of silk industry during the last three years; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  technical  upgradation, development and promotion of silk in the country?

## उत्तर ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) & (b): Due to global recession and reduction in demand for silk goods in major silk importing countries, the Silk goods export earnings have been decreasing since 2008.  Main reason  for  decreased  silk  exports  is  also  attributed  to  increase  in  prices  of  raw  silk yarn/fabrics making the products unaffordable for major section of buyers in the domestic as well as in the international markets. The demand is shifting towards other cheaper blends of silk with synthetic and polyester fabrics, which look like pure silk fabrics and other low cost fabrics  like  cotton,  polyester,  linen.    However,  no  separate  evaluation  has  been  made  by Central Silk Board (CSB) in this regard.
- (c): The total value of silk exports from India during last three years is given below:

| Year    |   Value of silk exports from India (In Rs.crore) |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                                          2093.42 |
| 2017-18 |                                          1649.48 |
| 2018-19 |                                          2031.89 |

(d): Government of  India  through  Central  Silk  Board  has  taken  following  steps  for  the technical upgradation, development and promotion of silk industry in the country:

- i. CSB  has been implementing a Central Sector  Scheme  ' Silk  Samagra ' for development  of  sericulture  in  the  Country,  which  mainly  focuses  on  improving quality and productivity of domestic silk thereby reducing the country's dependence on imported silk. Under the scheme, assistance is extended to sericulture stakeholders for  the  beneficiary  oriented  components  like,  raising  of  Kissan  Nursery,  Plantation with improved Mulberry varieties, Irrigation, Chawki rearing centers with incubation facility,  construction  of  rearing  houses,  rearing  equipment's,  door  to  door  service agents  for  disinfection  and  input  supply,  support  for  Improved  reeling  units  like Automatic Reeling units, Multi-end Reeling machines, Improved Twisting machines and support for post yarn facilities for quality Silk and fabric production.
- ii. North  East  Region  Textile  Promotion  Scheme  (NERTPS):  Under  NERTPS,  38 Sericulture projects are being implemented in all North Eastern States in the identified potential districts under three broad categories viz., Integrated Sericulture Development  Project  (ISDP),  Intensive  Bivoltine  Sericulture  Development  Project (IBSDP), Eri Spun Silk Mills and Aspirational Districts.
- iii. To produce import substitute Bivoltine silk in the country, R&D has been focused to evolve productive bivoltine hybrids and package of practices for production.
- iv. Strengthening the Research & Development system to improve the levels of cocoon production  and  productivity  to  develop  improved  mulberry/  host  plant  verities, silkworm hybrids and technology packages.
- v. Cold  Storage  facilities  and  Bivoltine  grainages  have  been  strengthened  to  produce, store and supply quality Bivoltine silkworm seed.
- vi. For  production  of  3A-4A  grade  raw  Silk  from  the  bivoltine  cocoons,  Automatic Reeling Machines (ARM)/Units have been established in the country.
- vii. Central Silk Board and State Governments mobilize additional funds for sericulture development  through  convergence  by  availing  the  schemes  such  as  MGNREGA, RKVY etc., being implemented by various other Ministries of Govt. of India to create required infrastructure at stakeholder's level.
- viii. The basic customs duty of 10% & 20% is levied on raw silk and silk fabric import respectively. This will make the domestic silk weaving market segment stronger and also makes Indian silk export sector highly competitive.
- ix. Thrust provided on product development & diversification with focus on silk blends & popularizing Vanya silk products in the export business.
- x. The  Merchandise  Export  from  India  Scheme  (MEIS)  implemented  by  Ministry  of Commerce, GOI would definitely make silk sector competitive in the export Market.
- xi. Active  participation  of  Indian  exporters  in  the  international  expos  and  International Silk expos organized in India (both B2B and B2C) would give boost to the sector.
- xii. ''Indian  Silk''  is  being  promoted  as  a  brand  in  the  global  market  through  generic promotion & with the ''Silk Mark Tag'' to create a Brand image of Indian Silk.

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