To improve silk production quality, producers of Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh (HP) have appealed the State Government for grants.
Silk producers are finding it difficult to compete with industrial giants owing to lack of appropriate markets for small units and monopoly of big ones. Small facilities fear they won't survive if Government fails to offer growth opportunities for them.
Additional units have to be constructed for generating employment since local sericulture industry is capable of increasing income for marginal farmers and landless folk.
HP sustains 8275 silk cocoon farmers, produces 4,93,094 kg of green cocoons and sells 6.24 MT of raw silk to Karnataka and West Bengal.
But officials from Department of Sericulture allege that quality of silk and cocoons has improved in recent years. India has the biggest potential silk market in the world, hence prices need to be revised.
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