SILK PRODUCTION IN INDIA UPSC

Silk Production variety India in India:

• Silk is produced from silkworm. The silkworm feeds on the leaves of Mulberry, Mahual, Sal and Ber trees.
• The female silkworm lays 400-500 eggs in a single hatch.
• The larva feeds on the leaves of mulberry trees and spins cocoon around itself. Cocoon is a protective shell around the silkworm.
• The total raw production of silk in the country is 35,000 metric tonnes (MT) which has which has remained static since 2020.
• India is the second largest silk producer in the world & employs over 10 million people.
• Karnataka is, the leading producer of silk, producing more than 34% of the country's total production followed by Andhra Pradesh and Assam.
• Mulberry accounts for 71.50% (25,213 MT), Eri 19.40 %( 6,839 MT), Tassar 8.44% (2,977 MT) and Muga 0.66 %( 232 MT), Central Silk Board was established in 1948 for promoting research and development in the silk sector.
• Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute was established in 1943 in West Bengal to provide research and development support for the promotion of silk industry.
• Karnataka is the largest producer of raw silk in the country followed by Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand. These five states together contribute 84%of the total production of raw silk in the country.
• India has the unique distinction of producing all the five commercial varieties of silk include Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.
• There are several species of silk. Mulberry silk production is prominent in India.
• USA is the biggest export destination accounting to about 30% of all exports by value.