The Industries Department has prepared a plan to meet the growing demand of silk worm eggs to boost the silk production in the State. The department and Central Silk Board have provided assistance for opening of seven silk thread producing units in private sector during last financial year. Twelve more silk thread producing units would soon start functioning in private sector out of which six would be in district Bilaspur, four in Kangra district and one each in Hamirpur and Mandi districts of the State, according to J.S. Rana, Director Industries.
He said that these units would fulfill 70 percent of the silk cocoon demand of the existing silk thread producing units of the State. He said that 3.42 lakh mulberry plantation was done on 170 hectares private land by the identified beneficiaries under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during 2011-12. He said that third additional summer cocoon cultivation was undertaken on pilot basis and additional 5.80 metric tonne silk cocoons which boosted the income of silk producers.
He said that schemes worth Rs. 7.28 crore were sanctioned for various silk clusters in prominent silk producing districts by Central Silk Board under Silk Development Programme on the basis of proposals submitted by the Department. He said that Rs. 5.85 crore Central assistance was provided to promote silk production in the State.
