The Central Silk Board is planning on setting up automatic silk reeling units in key States to reduce dependence on imported raw silk.

Addressing the sensitisation programme on production of high-grade raw silk using Indian cocoons, Mr Arindam Basu, Director, Central Silk Technology Research Institute, said the raw silk produced by the automatic reeling machines in the country can be used for high speed rapier powerlooms as they are uniform in size with less winding breaks and low degumming losses.

The 400-automatic reeling units have a capacity to produce 34,000 kg of quality raw silk per annum working in two shift basis, explained Mr Basu.

Mr K. Sukumar Menon, Joint Director, Corporate and Enterprise Development Cell of the Central Silk Board, said to reduce dependence on imported raw silk, the board is making efforts to establish automatic silk reeling machines and multi-end reeling units for the benefit of silk industry under the Catalytic Development Programme.

The dependency of imported raw silk will be reduced in near future as the automatic silk reeling units are already producing 2A – 4A international grade of raw silk, he added.

The board along with the State's Department of Sericulture is providing financial and technical supports for setting up automatic silk reeling machines in the country.

“So far, seven automatic silk reeling units have been established – two in Karnataka, three in Tamil Nadu, and two Andhra Pradesh for the benefit of silk powerloom sector,” said Mr Menon.

“The demand from powerlooms for quality bivoltine silk is growing and we have no other alternative that to produce them in the country instead of depending upon import of quality silk mainly from China,” said Dr B, Saratchandra, Director-Technology, Central Silk Board.

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