India: Centre lays more emphasis on growing vanya silk
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PublishDate:
2006-12-30 16:39:00
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Bhubaneswar: The apex body of silk industry, Central Silk Board (CSB) is organising a five-day exhibition and trade meet for vanya silk, having more potential as a very Indian silk in the world market here on 3rd January, deputy secretary, KK Setty of the Central Silk Board said here on December 28.
The secretary added that center is laying emphasis on the growth of vanya forest-grown silk that has the potential to make a mark in the global market and more importantly to compete with China.
The exhibition would showcase all Indian varieties of non-mulberry silk under one roof while providing a platform for small manufacturers, handloom weavers, tribal artisans, retailers, traders, exporters and importers to exhibit and sell their products.
The vanya silk is being treated as a tribal craft of hill folks all these years and has got commercial importance only after receiving huge demand form foreign and domestic markets.
The figures shows that India lay distant second after China with 14 percent of the market share with annual production of around 17,305 metric tons of silk, including 15,445 metric tons of mulberry silk and 1,860 metric tons of vanya silk; while China accounts for about 80 percent of the world's silk market.
Mr Setty while speaking ahead of event pointed out that there is no competition for forest-grown silk as it is unique to India in comparison with mulberry silk.
Further, Vanya silk is eco-friendly as its cultivation does not affect the flora and the entire production process is eco-friendly; but is now required the commercial exploitation of the silk without disturbing the ecological balance to provide better livelihood for tribals.
Basically, India has four varieties of commercially exploitable silk, mulberry, tasar, muga and eri of which last three varieties are collectively called vanya as they are grown in forests.
However, the CSB in collaboration with state sericulture departments are providing support for the development of both mulberry and vanya silks.
Source: Industry Website