Jharkhand Is Set to Boost Its Silk Production

Jharkhand, the biggest silk producing state in India, is set to boost its silk production to first bridge the domestic demand-supply gap of 10,000 MT experienced by the country, and then to move closer to China in competition, Dhirendra Kumar, Managing Director of Jharkhand Silk Textiles & Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Jharcraft) told media.

With an annual production of 23,000 million tons (MT), India presently ranks second in global silk production, while China leads with an annual output of around 90,000 MT of silk.

Benefiting from ample availability of silkworm feeding plants and experienced weavers clustered in Santhal Pargana region, Jharkhand enjoys global monopoly in supplying certified organic tussar silk and has great potential to boost its silk production, while promoting livelihood in the region, Mr. Kumar said.

He said Jharcraft has developed a vision document for a Rs. 33.56 billion project envisaging creation of over one million direct jobs, and other indirect jobs in allied areas like plantation of host plants, rearing, reeling, spinning, weaving, surface ornamentation and apparel making.

Jharcraft has adopted a cluster-based approach with an aim to extend supervisory and marketing help in areas like reeling, spinning, stitching, katha stitch, block prints, satin stitch, applique and tye and dye, Mr. Kumar said.

A Rs. 85 million project aiming at generating livelihood for scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and other underprivileged people, is also awaiting execution in six districts of Santhal Pargana, he informed.

However, he added that this being a big project, they would first set the recruitment norms and would start enrolling employees only after the Cabinet approves the norms.

Last month, Union Textiles Minister K Sambasiva Rao declared that his Ministry would extend an assistance of Rs. 10 billion to Jharcraft to support its efforts aimed at boosting silk production in the state and generating livelihood for rural poor.