EG occupies first place in silk cultivated area

Kakinada: Central Silk Board Chairman K Hanumanthappa has said that the State is in the second place in terms of silk production in the country.

Addressing a press conference in the Roads and Buildings Guest House here on Friday, Hanumanthappa explained about the welfare schemes that benefit the silk farmers, the incentives to the farmers, subsidies, exports, imports and plans of the Central Silk Board.

He said that the Silk Board had made plans to increase silk production from 98 kilos per hectare to 111 kilos per hectare by the year 2019-20, thereby achieving 38,500 metric tons of silk production per year, which would make India self-sufficient in silk production.

He further informed that under the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) they were giving drip irrigation accommodation and inputs with a 90 percent subsidy.

One reeling machine unit, which is around Rs 14 lakh, would be given to the farmers on subsidy for Rs 10.25 lakh. Similarly, the automatic reeling machine unit, which costs Rs 1.4 crore would be given to the farmers for just Rs 40 lakh.

He further said that East Godavari district stood in first place in the cultivated area of 1,500 acres and the silk production was increased by 330 acres in the district this year.

Silk Mark Organisation deputy director Srinivasa Rao, Central Silk Board member and silk farmers participated.