The Hindu : Front Page : `TN to increase silk yarn reeling capacity'

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Monday, Dec 25, 2006
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`TN to increase silk yarn reeling capacity'

S. Ramesh

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SALEM: The raw silk yarn reeling capacity will be enhanced in Tamil Nadu shortly.

There is a mismatch between the cocoon production and the demand due to lack of adequate reeling capacity. The State has 1,450 basins, which is inadequate to consume the entire amount of cocoon produced. About 55 to 60 per cent of cocoon produced in the State is being sent to the markets in Karnataka, where the demand is heavy and farmers are being given better prices because of the presence of more reelers, says Sericulture Commissioner Harmander Singh.

However, farmers in the State cannot depend on the reelers in Karnataka, which is striving hard to increase its cocoon production and at a point of time, it can refuse the arrivals from Tamil Nadu, he points out. Hence, the Sericulture Department will soon undertake a three-pronged approach to increase the reeling capacity in the State. The official says this is vital to create a competitive market, sustain the price and help farmers sell the cocoon in the markets here. Further, the mulberry cultivation in the State is expected to go up to 75,000 acres from the current 23,000 acres by 2012, when, about 8,500 basins will be required to consume the cocoon produced.

"So we have planned to adopt a three-pronged strategy - revival of the closed private and government reeling units and encouraging the entrepreneurs to start new ones," Mr. Singh explains.

New units

Revival of the private and government units will ensure that the available reeling capacity is fully operational. The department is encouraging the entrepreneurs to start new units by giving them training, guidance and subsidy. More than 50 per cent subsidy is being given for setting up cottage reeling units.

"This year, we have selected entrepreneurs to start 50 units. In the last six months, the department has established over 400 new basins," he points out.

To sustain the price of cocoon, the department, along with the Central Silk Board, has also taken up initiatives to improve the demand for silk.

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