State government to turn sericulture a money spinner for farmers

Hyderabad: The State government is all set to give a fillip to the sericulture to provide employment as well as stable income to farmers and rural youth.

According to the State Horticulture Department (SHD) officials, the scheme will be rolled out combining the two Central sector schemes (CSS), namely, the Remunerative Approach for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RAAASR), which is earlier popularly known as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the 'Samagra Silk.' The first scheme is being implemented through the Union Agriculture Ministry, the second one is supported through the Central Silk Board (CSB), Bengaluru.

Under the two projects, the small and marginal farmers with lands admeasuring two to four acres will be encouraged to take up the sericulture. The main objective of the State government is to ensure that farmers get substantial income every month for longer periods. The Samagra Silk Scheme (SSS) fit-into this objective.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official of SHD said the pre-silkworm cocoon stage is a labour-intensive activity. Thus, this will not only provide employment opportunity but will also contain the migration of the labour to the urban areas. The post-cocoon stage is linked to industrial activity.

This includes setting up silkworm cocoon processing and extraction of silk threads etc. This would help prospective entrepreneurs from the rural areas of the State to start their own small and medium enterprises.

It would also enable extraction and supply silk yarn, weaving and production of the cloth. To give support to the entire activity the SSS has linkages from seed organisation to quality certification and brand promotion.

It also has linkages with the top research institutions from within the country abroad. Apart from the domestic markets, the SSS will also give support to the exporting of the silk yarn and cloth.

"Before the formation of Telangana, the State had sericulture only in about 3,000 acres and now it has touched to 11,000 acres. The activity provides around Rs 35, 000 income per month to the farmers in the pre-cocoon state," the official said.