Maran promises Central aid for sericulture
STAFF Reporter
CHAYGAON, Aug 19 – Union Minister of Textiles Dayanidhi Maran on Wednesday inaugurated a composite silk unit of M/s Fabric Plus Pvt Ltd at the Industrial Growth Centre here and described the venture as an important landmark in the development of sericulture industry in the State. The total cost of the unit is around Rs 5.50 crore, and the Central Silk Board and Department of Sericulture, Government of Assam has provided a subsidy of Rs 155.30 lakh and Rs 48.10 lakh respectively.
The Union Minister assured of all Central help to ensure that the two projects of the State government, establishing a Jute Processing Park, and a Textile Processing Park, came to fruition at the earliest. It needs to be mentioned here that the State government has envisaged the establishment of these two parks on private-public partnership model.
Maran expressed satisfaction at the 37 per cent increase in eri silk production in the region which contributes 95 per cent of the eri production in the country and specially mentioned Assam which produces about 50 percent of eri and 86 per cent of muga in the country.
The Union Minister said that the region should focus on increasing its production and quality to have a competitive edge over China, which is presently the largest producer of silk in the world. “Technology has to be introduced to traditional products to make them nationally and internationally competitive,” emphasized Maran adding that to compete in the market it was also important to give encouragement and incentives to the entrepreneurs and urged the State government to involve more private participation in the sericulture and textile sector.
Maran while acknowledging that the global meltdown has brought stagnancy in growth, brushed aside worries that the crisis will have a drastic impact on the sericulture and textile sector saying that the component of strong domestic consumption has made the impact less. “We have taken up fiscal stimulus schemes to face the global economic crisis,” assured the minister.
The inauguration function was attended by Minister of Industries, Commerce and Power, Government of Assam, Pradyut Bordoloi and many other dignitaries.
On the other hand, drawing the attention of the Union Minister, Pranab Gogoi, Minister of Handloom, Textiles, Sericulture and Law, Government of Assam, said that the full potential of muga and eri production in the State has not been explored till date due to financial constraints and requested Maran to extend necessary help to boost sericulture and textile in the State.