Centre's move to boost sericulture in East Godavari
Kakinada: The mulberry farmers in the district are in advantageous position as the Centre's ban on import of silk products from China will benefit them a lot during the hard time of Covid-19.
East Godavari district ranks third position in the production of cocoons. As the Centre planned to stop import of Mulberry silk, the farmers growing mulberry plants will be benefitted a lot.
During this lockdown period, the mulberry farmers sustained a loss of Rs 50 lakhs. But the ban on import of silk products from China will encourage and boost up the confidence of farmers.
In the lockdown period, the price of a kg bivoltine cocoons (white) has come down to Rs 300 from Rs 450 and Rs 300 to Rs 200 a kg on crossbreed Yellow bivoltine cocoons.
The government is proposing to give one acre with an incentive of Rs 10,500 to each farmer. In that way each person is going to be allotted 5 acres of land.
Deputy Director of Sericulture B Ramana Raju speaking to The Hans India here one Thursday said that farmers have cultivated mulberry in 500 acres in the district and they were 890 farmers working in the mulberry fields.
But, now, the government is supplying chalky worms as per their requirement without any limits and this helps the farmers to cultivate sericulture without any difficulties in verms' wise, said Ramana Raju.
He said that rolling machine costs about Rs 4 lakh and the government was providing it at subsidized rate of Rs 3 lakh. For the purpose of equipment, which costs about Rs 75,000, the government is giving a subsidy of 75 per cent to Rs 56,256.
For people with below two acres, the government is giving a subsidy on equipment. If equipment costs about Rs 3 lakh, the government is giving it on subsidized price at Rs 2.35 lakh.
But in the case of SC/ STs, irrespective of acreage, the government is ready to give 90 per cent subsidy.
He said in the present situation, the farmers may take advantage and produce on a large scale the cocoons and there by earn huge profits.