During the April-January period of 2024-25, India produced 34,042 metric tonnes (MT) of raw silk, up over 10,000 metric tonnes from the 24,299 metric tonnes produced during the same time in 2014-15, the Parliament was told on Tuesday.
In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita credited this growth to a number of Central Government initiatives, such as the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry, Silk Samagra, Silk Samagra-2, and the Catalytic Development Programme.
With an investment of Rs. 4,679.85 crore (US $ 547 million), the Government is implementing the Silk Samagra-2 plan through the Central Silk Board from 2021–2022 to 2025–2026. This program offers financial assistance for various initiatives, including post-cocoon processing, infrastructure development, silkworm rearing aid, and the creation of kisan nurseries.
Approximately 78,000 stakeholders have benefited from the Rs. 1,075.58 crore (US $ 126 million) disbursed to states under the Silk Samagra-2 scheme, which supports both pre- and post-cocoon activities. Furthermore, research and development programs have been essential in raising silk productivity and production, aligning with the silk industry’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Over the past three years, including the current fiscal year, the Government of India has provided financial assistance under the Silk Samagra-2 initiative to support sericulture development in various states. Specifically, Andhra Pradesh received Rs. 72.50 crore (US $ 8.53 million), and Telangana received Rs. 40.66 crore (US $ 4.78 million) for implementing beneficiary-oriented components aimed at enhancing silk production and productivity.
