The Hindu Business Line : Silk Board allays fears over opening up of seed production

The Central Silk Board (CSB) has sought to allay concerns over the recent amendments to the Central Silk Board Act, which aims to open up silkworm seed production, by stating that it will ensure better quality seeds to farmers that will result in better yield of cocoons.

Currently, the production of silkworm seeds is under controlled regime. The Central Silk Board (Amendment) Act 2006, recently passed by Parliament, will open up silkworm seed production to a large number of players and provide linkages between the seed coon producers and egg producers to upgrade the quality of seeds produced.

Dispelling concerns that the amendments would harm silk growers' interests, CSB Chairman Mr H. Hanumanthappa said that the objective of the current exercise was to ensure sufficient quantity of quality and certified seeds for the farmers.

He added that the Textiles Ministry will bring into effect a National Silkworm Seed Regulatory Authority (NSSRA) taking into consideration the existing State Act in seed regulation in order to provide for an all-India quality certification and testing body for all local and imported seeds of mulberry and non-mulberry silkworm races.

Further, an assured supply of quality cocoons in large quantities for the reeling sector would help boost the silk output to meet the country's growing demand and also attract corporates to the sericulture sector, he said.

India annually produces about 16,000 tonnes of raw silk, while consumption exceeds 25,000 tonnes.

The shortfall is mostly met through imports of raw silk, mainly from China.

Silk producing States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir have largely agreed to the draft new rules incorporating the recent amendments.

However, some stakeholders have expressed concerns over the amendment to the CSB Act. "We will seek the stakeholders' confidence before finalising the rules," the Chairman said.

Mr H. Basker, CEO of CSB, said that the amendments will not affect the existing seed cocoon and cocoon markets adversely as being apprehended, but in turn promote quality-based cocoon transactions that will fetch better prices for farmers.