Rajahmundry: Silk production is expected to go up to the tune of nearly 8,000 kg in East Godavari as the Sericulture authorities expect 550 metric tonnes of cocoons to be produced in the current fiscal, up from last year’s 404 metric tonnes.
Nearly seven kg of cocoons are required to produce one kg of silk. The high-quality silk produced in the district is used to make door curtains, decorative items and dust covers in Europe. It is also used to make saris for domestic market.
The sericulture authorities say that mulberry plantations are being raised over 1,250 acres in Gollaprolu, Tuni, Kotananduru, Routhulapudi, Prathipadu, Gandep-alli, Rajavommangi, Y. Ramavaram and Ganvaram mandals in the district.
The state government provides a subsidy of up to 50 per cent to farmers for the construction of sheds, purchase of equipment, and for the setup of reeling units.
The farmers breed bivoltaine and multi-voltaine races of silk worms, depending on climatic conditions.
Multi-voltaine silk worms are raised from April to September. The farmers then sell their cocoons in the local market at Chebrole and at the market located in Hanuman Junction near Vijayawada.
Several entrepreneurs have set up facilities locally to extract silk yarn from the cocoons; and the yarn is further processed to make silk saris and garments.
The silk produced locally is sold at Dharmavaram and Hindupur.
East Godavari Sericulture Deputy Director I. Koteswara Rao said, “We are expecting an enhanced production of silk in the current fiscal year as the production of cocoons has increased by 150 metric tonnes, as compared to last year. The silk generated locally is of top quality and is sold in both domestic and international markets.”
