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Union Minister of Textiles K. Sambasiva Rao has asked the Central Silk Board to develop solar-operated spinning devices to expand mulberry/silk area in the country.
While reviewing the sericulture and silk development in the country, Rao said solar-operated spinning devices are critical for expansion of mulberry area and also vital to provide self employment to a larger number of beneficiaries in the north-eastern states.
The Minister asked the Central Silk Board to tap resources from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme to develop devices and also for sericulture expansion in potential areas.
Sambasiva Rao, while reviewing progress, said raw silk production will be doubled to 46,000 tonnes during the terminal year of 12th Plan period i.e., 2016-17 with an annual growth rate of 20-25 per cent in silk production.
Further, he said that the area under mulberry cultivation will be raised from the existing mulberry area of 1.96 lakh hectares to three lakh hectares by the end of the Plan period.
During his visit to the Central Silk Board, the Minister launched a 10-ends concept model of automatic silk reeling machine developed by the Central Silk Technological Research Institute, Central Silk Board, Bangalore.
Based on this model, 120-200 ends automatic silk reeling machines will be developed and this will help in reduction of manpower and improving the quality of raw silk equivalent to imported raw silk.
Scientists of the technology institute have also developed innovative technologies such as wet reeling machine for Tassar, vacuum permeation cooking unit for mulberry silk reeling, solar-power-operated Eri spinning machine and mechanical Tassar cocoon sorting machine. “These machines will be useful in increasing the productivity, reduction of drudgery and improvement in quality of silk,” said Ishita Roy, Member-Secretary, CSB.
She further said that scientists at the Board have evolved high yielding mulberry varieties and silkworm races, eco-friendly farming techniques, mulberry and silkworm crop protection measures, mechanisation in pre and post-cocoon sectors to reduce labour dependency in sericulture.
anil.u@thehindu.co.in
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