Attract younger generation towards silk industry

Central Silk Board : Attract younger generation towards silk industry

An interview with Rajit Ranjan Okhandiar | Member Secretary & CEO | Central Silk Board

With what objective was CSB set up?

CSB was set up with the following core objectives:

Make continuous efforts in Research and Development and Technology Transfer in sericulture
To create greater opportunities for gainful employment and improved levels of income in sericulture through spread of scientific sericulture practices
To improve productivity in all stages of silk production
Strengthen levels of efficiency through a commitment to quality

What is the exact role of CSB in textile Sector?

The following are major roles/activities carried out by CSB for the development of silk sector under textile sector:

Promoting the development of Silk Industry by such measures as it thinks fit.
To create greater opportunities for gainful employment and improved levels of income in sericulture through spread of scientific sericulture practices
Undertaking, assisting or encouraging scientific, technological and economic research.
Devising means for improved methods of mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, developing and distribution of healthy silkworm seeds, improved methods of silk reeling and spinning of the cocoons and silk-waste, improving the quality and production of raw silk, if necessary by making it compulsory, for all the raw silk to be marketed ,only after the same has been tested and graded in properly quipped raw Silk Testing and Conditioning Houses.
Improving the marketing of raw silk.
The collection of statistics.
See India emerge as the leader in the world market for silk.
To advise the Central Government on all matters relating to the development of silk industry including import and export of raw silk.
To prepare and furnish such other reports relating to the silk industry as may be required by the Central Government from time to time.

How do you view the CSB’s significant progress since its inception?

Significant Progress of Central Silk Board since its inception can be viewed with the recorded data given below:

Raw silk Production: Variety-wise raw silk Production details (Mulberry (Bivoltine & Cross breed) and Vanya (Tasar, Eri, Muga) in the country from 1140 MT 1951 to 2011-12 (comparison over every 10 years) and for the year 2016-17 are given below:

Year	Production of Mulberry Raw Silk(MT)			Production of Vanya Silk(MT)				Grand Total (Mulberry+ Vanya)
Year	Bivoltine	Cross breed	Total	Tasar	Eri	Muga	Total	Grand Total (Mulberry+ Vanya)
1951		879	879				261	1140
1961		1264	1264	203	133	56	392	1656
1971-72		2046	2046	314	168	72	554	2600
1981-82		4801	4801	257	147	44	448	5249
1991-92		10658	10658	329	704	72	1105	11763
2001-02	840	15002	15842	249	1160	100	1509	17351
2011-12	1685	16587	18272	1590	3072	126	4788	23060
2016-17	5266	16007	21273	3267	5637	171	9075	30348

Employment generation: Estimated employment generation in the countryfrom 1991-92 to 2011-12 (comparison over every 10 years) and for the year 2016-17 is given below:-

Year	Estimated Employment Generation (Lakh Persons)
1991-92	54.2
2001-02	55.0
2011-12	75.6
2016-17	85.1

R&D Milestone achievement and Productivity improvement through R&D since inception: Although sericulture industry in India is centuries old, the productivity remained one of the lowest in the world for a very long time. Hence, it was thought fit to harness Science and Technology for the improvement of Indian Sericulture. It was at the instance of the second All-India Sericultural Experts’ Conference held in Lucknow in the year 1940 and later, the Silk Conference held in Delhi in 1942 that it was decided to establish a sericultural research station. Thus the first ever research Centre for sericulture was established in the year 1943 at Berhampur (West Bengal) by the Government of India much prior to the constitution of the Central Silk Board in 1948-49. This was followed by the founding of another research center in Channapatna in 1955 by the State Government of Mysore which was later transferred to the Central Silk Board in 1961. The Centre ultimately moved to Mysore city in 1963. In addition, some special schemes of research were sponsored by the Central Silk Board at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and at some Universities during the 1950’s and ’60s.

The R&D contributions and its impact on sericulture development and productivity improvement since inception of Central Silk Board (1948-49 to 2017) are as follows;

Developed & Authorised 15 mulberry varieties and 25 silkworm breeds for productivity.

R&D efforts have helped in improving the mulberry leaf yields from 8-10 MT/ Ha/year during 1948-49 to 57-62 MT/Ha/year during 2017-18, Cocoon yield from 15-20 Kg/100 dfls during 1948-49 to 60 Kg/100 dfls during 2017-18 and Renditta from 15-17 during 1948-49 to 7.3 during 2016-17.

In Vanya silk sector, CSB has standardized the Package of practices for host plants of Tasar (Terminalia tomentosa and T. arjuna, Muga (‘Som’, Persea bombycina Kost and ‘Soalu’, Litsea monopetala (Roxb.) and Eri (Castor, Ricinus communis L., Kesseru, Heteropanax fragrans Seem, and Barkasseru, Ailanthus glandulosa). In Tasar an alternative food plant Lagerstroemia speciosa for Tasar silkworm rearing, which is easy rooter and fast growing has been identified and trials are on to validate the rearing performance. For selecting fast growing drought tolerant Terminalia arjuna accessions, 10 superiors have been selected. In Muga, besides developing ‘Godadhar’ – a tetraploid variety of som, two Som accessions (S3 & S6) resistant to leaf spot disease, leaf blight and rust are being popularized in the field. Among Eri host plants three varieties of Castor (NBR 1, NBR-2, NBR-3developed by CMERTI), 10 accessions of Kesseru (eri food plant) have been developed.

Seed production: The details of Seed Produced by CSB seed production units under National Silkworm Seed Organization (NSSO) for Mulberry (Bivoltine & Cross breed), Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organization (BTSSO) for Tasar, Muga Silkworm Seed Organization (MSSO) for Muga and Eri Silkworm Seed Organization (ESSO) for Eri in the country since their inception (comparison over every 10 years) are given below:

Year	Silk Worm Seed production (lakh dfls)
	Mulberry			Vanya				Grand Total
	Multivol-tine	Bivoltine	Sub-Total	Tasar	Muga	Eri	Sub-Total	Grand Total
1975 – 76	5.65	—	5.65	—	—	—	—	5.65
1985 – 86	128.77	—	128.77	—	—	—	—	128.77
1991 – 92	174.90	40.32	215.22	—	—	—	—	215.22
1995 – 96	197.27	27.69	224.96	—	—	—	—	224.96
1997 – 98	206.86	36.02	242.88	—	1.51	—	1.51	244.39
1998 – 99	218.61	31.65	250.26	12.17	2.19	—	14.36	264.62
2004 – 05	164.61	74.55	239.16	21.34	2.57	0.12	24.03	263.19
2005 – 06	160.75	89.05	249.80	21.41	2.78	1.56	25.75	275.55
2016 – 17	87.60	342.77	430.37	47.97	6.87	4.78	51.85	482.22

How is the overall scenario of Indian textile sector?

Sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 8.25 million persons in rural and semi-urban areas in India. Of these, a sizeable number of workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. India’s traditional and culture bound domestic market and an amazing diversity of silk garments that reflect geographic specificity has helped the country to achieve a leading position in silk industry. India has the unique distinction of being the only country producing all the five known commercial silks, namely, Mulberry, Tropical Tasar, Oak Tasar, Eri and Muga, of which Muga which is produced only in India with its golden yellow glitter is a prerogative of India.

India is the Second largest producer of silk in the World. Among the four varieties of silk produced in 2016-17, Mulberry accounts for 70.09% (21,273 MT), Tasar 10.77% (3,268 MT), Eri 18.58% (5,637 MT) and Muga 0.56% (170 MT) of the total raw silk production of 30,348 MT.

During 2017-18, it is anticipated to produce 33,840 MT of raw silk which includes 6200 MT of Bivoltine silk and 10364 MT of vanya silk.

What potential textile (mainly silk) sector has in India?

Silk Industry in India stands for livelihood opportunity for millions, owing to its high employment potential, low capital requirement and remunerative nature of its production. The very nature of this industry with its rural based on-farm and off-farm activities and enormous employment generation potential has attracted the attention of the planners and policy makers to recognize the industry among one of the most appropriate avenues for socio-economic development of a largely agrarian economy of India.

Silk has been intermingled with the life and culture of the Indians. India has a rich and complex history in silk production and its silk trade which dates back to 15^th century. R&D achievements like development of indigenous mulberry varieties with highest leaf yields in the world, new bivoltine silkworm hybrids eminently suited to the tropical regions of the country, farmer-friendly technologies, cost-effective new package of practices for cultivation of food plants, rearing and reeling coupled with huge natural and man-made resources and trained manpower clearly indicates the future prospects of sericulture industry to emerge as a promising indicator of economic development for the upliftment of the socially deprived communities and the downtrodden. The potential of silk industry in India can be known from the following aspects;

Large production base, availability of skills, land and labour.
Established infrastructure, availability of silkworm breeds / hybrids
Low investment, short gestation period and higher returns.
Easily adoptable technologies and strong domestic demand-pull
Generation of rural employment and reduction of migration to urban areas.
Garment exports are on a steady increase with huge employment opportunities.

What is the challenges textile sector facing today?

Urbanization and industrialization in Traditional States.
Productivity reached a plateau due to genetic erosion / acclimatization of breeds.
Labour scarcity and high cost of hired labour.
Price Volatility in cocoon and raw silk.
Gap in technology adoption.
Resource Constraint: Synergy with other Departments for taping resources.
Promote Make in India plan of GOI.
Extreme weather conditions affecting crop loss.
Delay in submission of Utilization Certificates by the States.

What would you say are the important steps taken by CSB to face the challenges?

The CSB has taken the following steps to face the challenges and increase the production of silk in the country:

Increased thrust on R&D for improvements in silk productivity, quality and income:

Improved mulberry varieties such as G2, G4, C2038 Suvarna – 2, Tr – 23 capable of producing higher leaf yield have been released to the field.
High yielding bivoltine silkworm breeds ((G11 X G19), (CSR 52 X 51) X (CSR 51 X 53), (CSR 50 X 51) capable of producing high quality silk suitable for various agro climatic conditions have been released.
Low cost technology packages have been developed to reduce dependency on labour and improve the profitability.
CSB has taken up a collaborative project with North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) to map and identify the potential areas in a concerted manner for development of food plants for mulberry and vanya sericulture in the non-traditional States through ISRO remote sensing satellite images.

Thrust for the Production of Import substitute Bivoltine (BV) and Improved Cross Breed (ICB) Silks: Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Projects have been taken up to promote farmers to produce high quality bivoltine silk.
Large scale reeling units such as fully Automatic Reeling Units (20 numbers) have been established with a view to produce international quality raw silk of uniform grade.
172 bivoltine clusters have been developed in different states to boost bivoltine silk production in the country
Improved bed disinfectants such as Vijeta, Resham Keet Oushad, improved techniques for disease detection and control have been developed to improve the productivity and quality of silk
Implementation of Catalytic Development Programme: The Catalytic Development Programme (CDP) has been implemented by the Central Silk Board in collaboration with the States for complete and holistic development of sericulture industry in the country for sustainable development of silk industry in terms of quality and quantity improvement. Under CDP necessary infrastructure facilities such as mulberry farm, Rearing House, Chaki Rearing Centres, Disinfection units, Reeling units etc., have been established at Farmers / Reelers level. An amount of Rs 713.92 crores has been released to the states as Central Share for the implementation of CDP during first three years of XII Plan. The programme was discontinued from 2015-16.
Convergence with other schemes of Govt. of India such as MGNREGA, RKVY etc. to tap resources for the integrated development of sericulture mainly towards expanding the area under host plantation
Accelerate the growth in vanya silk production and explore better value realization in domestic and international markets. Use of Vanya silk fibers with blend of cotton, wool and mulberry silk are being encouraged to ensure higher value addition for all fibers for production of premium or exclusive fabrics.
Collaborative projects have been taken up with Japan, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, China etc.. for exchange genetic materials to develop improved silkworm breeds suitable to Indian conditions.

What are the recent activities of CSB, mainly in eastern region?

Govt. of India through Central Silk Board undertaken following activities for the development of silk sector in the country including eastern region:

Launching of Indigenous Automatic Reeling Machine: Indigenous Automatic Silk Reeling package catering to the needs of small and medium scale reelers has been developed by Central Silk Board under the “Make in India” initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister. While this indigenous machine apart from cost reduction of 15 lakh per unit of 200 ends is more is more suitable to Indian conditions, it will also address the prevailing skilled manpower shortage in the industry. The indigenous machine has been launched for commercial production Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles on 20^th December 2016 at Bangalore.
Improved machine for Vanya silk reeling: The Central Silk Board popularizing 9 improved reeling and spinning machines suitable for Vanya silk reeling to replace traditional primitive reeling practices. One such machine is “Buniyaad Silk Reeling Machine” which is being popularized to replace thigh reeling. This machine was launched on 08-03-2017 at 5 places (New Delhi, Bhagalpur, Champa, Keojhar and Nagpur) on the occasion of “International Women’s Day”.
Skill Enhancement: The R&D units of Central Silk Board have trained 16690 persons in different viable sericulture activities and skill sets covering all sectors of sericulture during 2016-17 and 7444 so far during the year 2017-18. A state of the Art Centre of Excellence for training has been established at Bangalore with class room and laboratory facilities for practical training. This was inaugurated by the the Hon’ble Minister of Textiles on 20^th December 2016 at Bangalore.
Application of Space Technology: SILKS (Sericulture Information Linkages and Knowledge System) Portal- Central Silk Board won the National e-governance Silver Award-2014-15 for its project on `Application of remote sensing and GIS technology in sericulture development’ by Department of administrative reforms and public grievances (DAR&PG). The portal has helped identify potential sericulture areas for horizontal expansion in 24 states covering 108 districts. The project in its second phase will cover 70 more districts. Central Silk Board in collaboration with the North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC), Umiam, Meghalaya has taken up Second phase of RS&GIS project at a total cost of Rs 210.00 lakhs in 70 more potential districts in the 24 Sericulture States including NE region for sericulture expansion/development. NESAC has initiated the Second phase of the RS&GIS project and the project activities are underway. This project, received National e-Governance Award on “Application of remote sensing and GIS technology in Sericulture.
Integrated Scheme for the development of silk industry: The ongoing plan scheme viz Integrated Scheme for the Development of silk industry is being continued. Allocation of Rs 154.01 crores allocated for the scheme during 2016-17 has been fully utilised. An amount of Rs 184.00 Cr has been allocated for the year 2017-18. The scheme also covered specific projects under SCSP and TSP
Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP): During the year 2016-17, Special scheme for SC beneficiaries was approved with an outlay of Rs 22.73 crores (GOI share), which has also been spent fully to cover 1175 SC stakeholders in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, & J&K. During the year 2017-18, Special scheme for SC beneficiaries was approved with an outlay of Rs 23.00 crores (GOI share), to cover 2330 SC stakeholders in the states Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh States.

Tribal Sub Plan (TSP): Similarly, during 2016-17, a provision of Rs. 8.5 crores was made for TSP under the Central Sector Scheme which has been utilized fully covering 3263 beneficiaries in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal). For the year 2017-18, a budget provision of Rs.30.00 crores has been approved to cover around 11107 beneficiaries in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme: For development of sericulture in the North East, 2 sericulture projects, viz., Integrated Sericulture Development Project and Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project have been approved for implementation in 8 NE States at a total cost of Rs.819.19 crore with GoI share of Rs.690.01 crore for implementation from 2014-15 to 2018-19 covering 46,094 families. The project will result in production of 2285 MT of silk during the project period and 1100 MTs per annum after the project period.

How do you see the CSB in the year 2020?

CSB is working with the following vision to be achieved by 2020:

Achieving self-sufficiency in import substitute bivoltine silk. The bivoltine raw silk production is expected to cross 6,200 MTs during 2017-18. By 2020, India would become self-sufficient in the bivoltine silk production with the annual production of 9,000 MTs.
Continuous development/improvement of silkworm breeds by exchange of genetic material through collaborative research, horizontal expansion in non-traditional/ drought and salt affected soils etc.,
Promote Vanya Silk production in close coordination with forest departments to boost export of organic / eco-friendly silk.
Emphasis on skill development through Capacity Building & Training.
For production of 3A-4A grade raw Silk from the bivoltine cocoons, 35 Automatic Reeling Machines (ARM)/Units have been established in the country. It is proposed to establish 24 additional ARMs during 2017-18 to 2019-20.

What are the major thrust areas in the coming days? Elaborate CSB’s future plans.

CSB is having following future plans for the sustainable growth of Indian Silk Industry:

Achieving self-sufficiency in import substitute bivoltine silk and bringing shift from cross breeds to third generation improved cross breeds, to make Indian silk industry globally competitive.
Continuous development/improvement of silkworm breeds by exchange of genetic material through collaborative research, horizontal expansion in non-traditional/ drought and salt affected soils etc.,
Tropicalisation of temperate sericulture to develop suitable breeds for tropical conditions of India with quality parameters similar to bivoltine silk.
Support to address critical gaps in infrastructure at stakeholder level viz., Chawki rearing, rearing houses, seed multiplication infrastructure with focus on large scale farming & seed production with private participation, strengthening of Seri-input delivery mechanism and mechanization will be continued to improve the productivity, quality and reduce the drudgery.
Promote CBO, SHG, Para Extension worker, Farmers Producer Company, Village level resource persons to strengthen transfer of technology and address Manpower issues.
Strengthen Seed multiplication infrastructure & increase seed production base through State and Private participation
Promote Vanya Silk production in close coordination with forest departments to boost export of organic / eco-friendly silk.
Emphasis on skill development through Capacity Building & Training.
Promote Automatic Reeling/ Automatic Dupion Reeling units with focus on indigenously made automatic reeling machines to improve the quality of silk yarn to international standards and reduce wastage. Propagate improved vanya reeling / spinning machines to reduce drudgery and eradicate thigh reeling practice
Support to the post silk yarn sector to strengthen the activities such as Silk Twisting, Weaving, Dyeing & Finishing for creation of State-of–the–art technology like high end Shuttle-less looms, Arm dyeing, Digital printing machines etc. to meet the export requirements.
Promote use of silk for diversified and non-textile purpose with focus on development of blends, knitted and non-woven fabrics & structural finish In order to diversify the utility of silk.
Promote water use reduction/ recycling and energy saving/ use of new & renewable energy in processing industry.
Encourage Use of Silk in Biomaterial research in the medical field for applications such as sutures, surgical bandages, optical devices, cell scaffolding and adhesive gels and also in cosmetic fields.
Promote by-product utilization viz., pupa as fish/poultry feed, nutraceuticals, sericin in cosmetics, Product/ design development and diversification, market support/ intelligence studies to keep track of consumer trends.
Take up convergence programme to tap resources under schemes like MGNREGS, MKSP, NRLM of Ministry of Rural Development, RKVY, KVK, Soil Health Cards from Ministry of Agriculture, support from NABARD for community building, collaborate with MEA for importing genetic material from Japan, China, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan etc, for improving the genetic base to produce high yielding silkworm hybrids.

Any comments on Government policy?

Revised guidelines issued by the Govt. for Vanya Silk cultivation under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India had issued Notification No.2-1/2003-FC-Pt-III, dated 7^th June-2004, wherein it was notified that, non-mulberry silk (Vanya) cultivation in forest areas has been allowed, since it is a way of life for many tribal families and forest dwellers in Central and Eastern India. This amendment has been issued after careful consideration in the interest of forest conservation and protection.

All the States and UTs have been requested to follow these revised guidelines while considering proposals for diversion of forest lands for Vanya silk cultivation and to draw micro plans for the development of “Vanya silk-culture” on the lines of conditions laid in the above Notification.

2. Custom Duty on imports: At present a basic customs duty of 10% is levied on imported raw silk and silk fabric and the present level need to be maintained to bring in parity.

3. Anti Dumping Duty on Raw silk: In order to safeguard the interest of the domestic silk industry against the cheap imports, Directorate General of Antidumping & Allied Duties (DGAD) vide notification No.14/17/2014/DGAD dated 4-12-2015 imposed a fixed duty of US$ 1.85 per Kg on the landed cost of imported raw silk, which will be in force till Dec-2020.

4. Anti Dumping Duty on Silk Fabrics: An antidumping duty on Chinese silk fabrics with weight ranging from 20-100 gm/meter indicating a reference price of US$ 2.08 – 7.59 / Mtr was in force till December-2016.

Further, subsequent to the discussion had with the weavers Associations & comparing the prices of imported silk fabrics (Like Crepe, Georgette etc.) in the domestic market, it is observed that there is a no possibility for a 2nd Sunset Review. Under the above circumstances and as per the opinion gathered from various weavers Associations, CSB needs to analyse the domestic market conditions on import of silk fabrics & its prices (for at least 6 months’ period after the closure of the antidumping duty). Subsequently, any decline/impact in the prices of imported silk fabrics in the domestic market, an appropriate decision would be taken for moving a fresh application/petition (in consultation with Associations) to arrest the possible dumping.

Have you any observation on any other issues?

Silk industry plays a key role in equity distribution- as silk is purchased by urban rich and money goes to rural poor. Silk is a natural fiber having aristocratic look and luster. Demand for silk is increasing and it has good market demand. Silkworm host plantation increases green cover, arrest soil erosion.

Rapid urbanization, scarcity of labour, low interest of younger generation on rural enterprise are some of the issues hampering the growth of silk industry. Mechanization in sericulture is reducing dependency on hired labour, group approach, high productivity and income, creation of Seri business enterprises, farmer producer company with federation of farmers group are some of the steps taken by CSB to attract younger generation towards silk industry.

(Shilpa Bichitra | Anniversary Edition | 2018)