The Hindu : `Eri silk commands better price than mulberry silk'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 11, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

`Eri silk commands better price than mulberry silk'

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, MARCH 10. "Ericulture" may soon become the new catch word among traditional sericulturists as well as farmers looking forward to enhance their agricultural earnings as there is a demand for "eri silk" (silk produced by Philosamia ricini) in the international market, according to P. Joy Oomen, member-Secretary, Central Silk Board, Bangalore.

He was addressing a seminar for progressive farmers here on Wednesday. The seminar was organised by the Belgaum Zilla Panchayat and the Department of Sericulture. Farmers from different parts of the district and adjoining areas attended.

Highlighting the advantages of "ericulture", he said "eri silk" commanded better prices than mulberry silk in the market. In fact, it could be taken up by women in a small space to raise family income. The prospects for "eri silk" were good as its supply in the market was not adequate as far as India was concerned.

He said the Central Silk Board was engaged in research activities for creating new mulberry varieties and silkworm races besides disinfectants and designing new technology-based equipment/farm machine to improve the quality of cocoons and consequently the quality of silk yarn.

Now, special emphasis was being given on increasing productivity as well as bringing down the cost of production to make the country competitive in the international market. The V-1 mulberry variety produced at the Central Silk Research Centre, Mysore, was becoming popular because of an increased production on mulberry, he said.

"We too can bring down silk prices if we can bring down the cost of production and further increase productivity as being done in China,'' he said. China, he said, had supplied silk at lower rates following which the Indian sericulturists had a bad time. With the Union Government increasing import duty on silk, farmers could get better prices this year.

He told farmers about the subsidies being offered for "rearing house" and drip irrigation by the Union and State Governments. A maximum subsidy of Rs. 50,000 was given for "rearing house" while there was a 50 per cent subsidy on installing drip irrigation systems.

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`Eri silk commands better price than mulberry silk'