In a major boost to silk industry, Maharashtra to set up organised market

To promote and encourage the silk industry in Maharashtra and to make available local markets for sericulturists in drought-affected Marathwada, the state government has begun work on the first organised market for silk cocoons in the region. Marathwada accounts for a major chunk of silk production. This will help boost incomes of farmers in the agriculturally stressed area.

A senior official from the state directorate of sericulture said a ground-breaking ceremony had been conducted at Jalna earlier this month.

"This market had been launched in April 2018 on an experimental basis at the Jalna Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and saw a turnover of Rs 3 crore. At present, farmers from Marathwada go to markets like Hyderabad and Ramnagara in Karnataka to sell silk cocoons. This access to a local market will ensure a good price, reduce travel costs, and encourage more farmers to take up silk work cultivation," he explained. The construction is expected to take a year.

The official added that while the raw material was sold in other states, the finished product was brought back to Maharashtra. This market at Jalna will create a more organised market for farmers and traders. This, combined with automatic reeling units which are operational at Jalna, Bhandara and Sangli, will foster a larger ecosystem.

Many farmers in parts of Marathwada like Osmanabad, Beed, Jalna and Aurangabad, are into sericulture to boost their incomes. Work has also begun on a market at Solapur, while a facility is operational at Baramati. Cocoons are auctioned at rates between Rs 350 to 500 per kg depending on the market situation.

"The basic rate is based on that at Ramnagara and even if farmers get slightly lower rates than that they would have secured there, it will ensure lesser costs like overheads, transport and labour," said another official.

The Maharashtra government is also branding its own 'Ahimsa silk' brand to appeal to vegans and religious sects which do not use the fabric because of the silkworms harmed in the production process.

Traditional silk production involves boiling the cocoons, which helps unravel and loosen the thread but kills the pupa. Ahimsa silk is humane as it allows the silkworm moth to hatch and leave the cocoon. Due to its religious and emotional significance, this high-value fabric will generate additional income for sericulturists, who are mostly dry-land farmers. Around 8 kg cocoons are used to make a kg of silk yarn. Each kg of cocoons involves killing at least 500 to 800 silkworms.

HOW STATE FARES

• Maha produces 2 types of silk-tussar & mulberry
   
• Most silk production takes place in Marathwada
   
• According to the Central Silk Board (CSB), the total production of raw silk in 2017-18 was 31,906 MT compared to the previous fiscal’s 30,348 MT
   
• Most of India’s silk demand is met via imports from China, the global leader in silk production