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Indian silk production takes a hit

NEW DELHI - Continuous drought conditions in traditional sericulture states and higher Chinese imports have seen silk production in India drop over the last two years, New Delhi said on Wednesday.

"Against 17,351 MT [metric tonnes] in 2001-02, mulberry and non-mulberry rawsilk production dropped to 16,319 MT in 2002-03 and to 15,742 MT in 2003-04," Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela informed Indian parliament in a written reply.

The minister said there was reduction in the total domestic production of mulberry raw silk during the last two years due to drought conditions in traditional sericulture states in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

"Also, surge in imports of raw silk mainly from China since 2001 coupled with steep fall in prices disrupted the Indian silk market and adversely affected cropping pattern of a large number of cocoon growers in most of the states, especially Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," he said.

Vaghela, however, said there was no decline in non-mulberry raw silk production during 2002-03 and 2003-04. The minister said to achieve the targeted self-sufficiency by the Central Silk Board (CSB) in the backdrop of these adverse conditions, the government had initiated several programs.

These include stepping up research and development efforts at CSB, seed support and technical assistance to state governments and farmers and the imposition of an anti-dumping duty, in effect since January 2, 2003, on all imported mulberry raw silk of international grade 2A and below, originated in or exported from China, so as to keep the landed value of these goods at US$27.97 per kilogram.

(Asia Pulse/PTI)

Dec 10, 2004

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