The Hindu Business Line : AP moves to step up sericulture production

THE State Government has taken innovative steps to boost sericulture production by promoting bivoltine silk and the Eri worm in a pilot initiative and mulberry plantations in the coastal regions of the State.

Reviewing the performance of the Sericulture Department, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, directed the department to take up pilot project of promoting Eri cocoons in two mandals of Ananthapur district where rainfall is scanty. Eri worm is reared on castor plantations.

"Since castor can be grown in such areas with low rainfall and scarce water, we should try and promote cultivation of castor instead of mulberry while encouraging Eri worm. Taking into account the plight of farmers in such drought-affected areas, the Government may consider move to extend some subsidy to these farm hands," Dr Reddy said.

The Commissioner of Sericulture, Mr S.K. Sinha, said that the Eri cocoon production started in 2003-2004 has recorded about 9700 kg in production. The State overall recorded 53,693 tonnes of cocoon in 2003-2004, which is the highest in the country. The State produced about Rs 500 crore worth cocoons in about 40,000 hectares of mulberry plantation last year.

Mr Sinha stated that the department was now planning to extend mulberry plantations to the coastal areas along with castor plantation rearing Eri worms in the Telangana region, which is faced with scanty rainfall.

Water for VSP: The Chief Minister directed the Irrigation Department and officials of Transco and Genco to immediately release 0.5 tmc of water from Sileru to Godavari as a one-time measure to meet the water requirements of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He also directed officials to initiate steps to ensure water supply to the VSP for the next 4-5 months.

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