According to H Basker, Member-Secretary of the Central Silk Board (CSB), the prolonged spell of wet weather experienced in south India is likely to cause a 10-15% reduction in the country's silk output this year.
Mascardine outbreak in places like Gobichettypalayam and Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu, in coastal Andhra and some parts of Karnataka has taken its toll. He included that the output of multi-voltine silk is expected to decline by 10-15 percent in these states, thus impacting the total output though they will do their best to meet their target.
The CSB has estimated silk output in India to touch 17,000 tonnes this fiscal against 16,500 tonnes during the last fiscal. Multi-voltine silk accounts for over 90 percent of the country's silk production. The country's production of bivoltine silk is expected to touch 2,000 tonnes by the end of the Tenth Plan.
Mr Basker said Bangalore would play host to the 20th congress of the International Sericultural Commission (ISC). CSB would also host “Silken Splendours-2005”, a silk exposition as a part of the ISC meet. Silken Splendour is an annual exhibition-cum-retail sale of silk and silk blends.
Mr Basker said a petition had been filed with the Union commerce ministry to levy an anti-dumping duty (ADD) on silk fabric. He stated that based on its initial notification, the Commerce ministry has sent notice to as many as 36 Chinese exporters, asking their view point (on the dumping of Chinese fabric into India). The matter is under the ministry's consideration.
Sources said silk fabric from China was coming at a cost of $1 to $1.4 per sqm, compared to $2.25 to $2.75 per sqm for Indian silk fabric. In the interim, the parliamentary sub-committee on textiles is examining a proposal to bring a Central legislation which would help to reform the sector and help various stakeholders. The CSB has been in the forefront of seeking amendments to the state's silk act.
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