Automatic silk reeling unit inaugurated in Kakinada

Kakinada: Agriculture minister K Kanna Babu said the state government was making efforts to promote production of quality silk in the state by encouraging sericulture units.

He participated in a meeting of reelers and farmers organised by National Silk Technological Research Station, Central Silk Board and state department of sericulture at Chebrole village in Gollaprolu mandal the district on Tuesday.

He also inaugurated an automatic reeling unit established here with a capacity to process 240 kg raw silk a day. The minister observed that sericulture, which used to confine to some areas in Anantapur and Chittoor districts, has been growing in other parts of the state too with even tenant farmers showing interest.

"Mulberry plantations will be encouraged through NREGS and a training centre will be established at a cost of Rs 15 lakh at Chebrolu to train the farmers and sheds will be built at a cost of Rs 50 lakh for additional accommodation.

Quality output of silk will help the state to minimise the import of silk from China and Karnataka state," he said and added that necessary steps would be taken to pay incentive arrears to the silk farmers in the state after consulting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

With regard to farmers welfare, he said that farmers in the state would be paid an amount of Rs 12,500 per year for four year under YSR Rythu Bharosa and the crop insurance amount for the farmers would be paid by the government.

Kanna Babu said that Rs 2,000 crore was allocated for interest-free loans to farmers and input subsidy arrears would be settled soon. Ranjit Ranjan, Member secretary, Central Silk Board, who attended the meet said that AP was producing quality silk which would help reducing silk imports from China and promised to take steps to export silk from the state if the proposals came from the state in this regard.

Subhash Naik, director, Silk Board, said that out of 91 automatic reeling centres in the country, nine are located in. Sericulture commissioner Chiranjeevi Chowdary said AP stood in second position in silk production in the country and recruitment of 400 sericulture assistants was underway to promote the activity.

District collector D Muraildhar Reddy said that 2300 acres was under mulberry cultivation in the district and the Tussaur unit established in Chintoor in the agency area to encourage tribal farmers was yielding good results . Pithapuram MLA Pendem Dorababu presided.