India-Japan research project looks to improve silkworm quality

The union cabinet has given its approval for an ongoing collaborative research project with Japan for developing hybrid and better yielding varieties of silkworms, which would give a big push to the silk industry.

The union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Central Silk Board (CSB) and Japan's National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) for collaborative research in the field of silkworm and silk industries.

The MoU, signed in November last year between CSB and NIAS provided for collaborative research for developing prolific bivoltine hybrids of silkworm suitable for the Indian tropical conditions.

The MoU is of scientific and technological nature. It would help in developing prolific hybrid silkworms, which would improve the manufacturing capacity and the quality standards of the Indian sericulture industry and thereby enhance exports of silk and silk products, an official release stated.

The improvement of quality and productivity would enable the Indian textiles and apparel industry produce world class silk and silk products and ultimately increase the potential for export of silk products, the release noted.