Sericulture included in Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Sericulture and allied activities would now on be eligible for funding under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). It will cover sericulture up to the stage of cocoon production along with extension system for cocoon production and silk yarn production in agri-enterprise up to the marketing.

The benefits of RKVY can now be availed for improvement of sericulture extension system, enhancement of soil health development of rain fed sericulture and for integrated pest management, a government release said today.

Benefits under RKVY would be available for improving silkworm seeds base and for mechanisation of the sector.

The decision will help provide support for development of market infrastructure and promotion of Seri enterprise. Projects can be taken up to support non-farm activities and special schemes can be sanctioned to beneficiaries of land reforms such as marginal and small farmers etc to maximise return to the sericulture farmer.

Giving this information, textile minister Dayanidhi Maran said the extension of the benefit is likely to give a significant boost to the sericulture activities, which is witnessing a declining trend for the last few years in the absence of attractive price and adequate incentive support system.

The Government of India is in the process of formulating the National Fibre Policy in which the sericulture and silk sector has been recognised as a very important component for growth of the natural fibre sector. Production of raw silk in the country needs to be launched on a higher growth projectile and the inclusion of this sector in RKVY has provided the much-needed impetus in this direction, the minister added.