Silk board Act changes: Ministry plans public hearing

Bangalore: The Textiles Ministry proposes to hold a public hearing in Bangalore on the amendments to the Central Silk Board Act on January 11.

The Union Minister of State for Textiles would interact with the representatives of farmers and silk reelers among others as a prelude to final ratification of the amendment, said the CSB Chairman, Mr H. Hanumanthappa, on Saturday.

Through the proposed amendment to the CSB Act, the Government aims to open-up silkworm seed production to ensure better quality seeds for farmers, which in turn would fetch them better yield of cocoons. At present, the production of silkworm seeds is under controlled regime.

The Central Silk Board (Amendment) Act 2006 was recently passed by Parliament. The amendment, when effected, would open-up the silkworm seed production to large number of players and provides linkages between the seed cocoon producers and egg producers to upgrade the quality of seeds produced, he said.

However, farmer groups mainly in Karnataka, the largest silk producing state, have voiced their concerns against the amendment. Farmers fear an impending threat to the native silkworm races following the likely introduction of new races once the amendment came into effect. They also fear the influx of middlemen into the cocoon trade and collapse of the existing marketing system.

Dispelling concerns that the amendments would harm the silk growers' interests', he said the objective of the current exercise was to standardise the silkworm seed production and ensure sufficient quantity of quality and certified seeds to the farmers.

At present, India produces about 17,000 tonnes of raw silk, while consumption exceeds 25,000 tonnes per annum. The shortfall is met through the imports mainly from China. Silk producing States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir among others have largely agreed to the draft new rules incorporating the recent amendments.

Mr Hanumanthappa said the CSB has approached the Union Government to consider including cocoons under the list of commodities for which the minimum support prices are declared in the event of a price crash.