India To Become ‘Aatma-Nirbhar’ In Silk Production In Next Two Years, States Textiles Minister Smriti Irani

With the raw silk production having increased by 35 per cent over the last six years, Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani has exuded confidence that India will be self-reliant in silk production in the next two years, reports Economic Times.

Highlighting that the number of people employed in the silk production sector has increased from 70 lakh six years ago to 90 lakh at present, Irani said that the Government aims to provide employment to over a crore people through its Krishi Vigyan Kendra programme.

Irani was addressing a programme to announce an MoU between the Textiles Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry under which the two ministries will focus on establishing tree-based agroforestry models in sericulture & exploring possibilities of activities through Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs).

The MoU is aimed at enhancing training, and at boosting technology and creating sustainable livelihood for silk farmers/rearers. Irani said that the MoU will increase the agricultural incomes by 20-30 per cent.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Irani and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala.