Revival of silk industry in Jharkhand is bright

Once a hub for tasar silk, Jharkhand looks upto central assistance for revival of the famous product. Before the state’s creation, the region used to play a major role in enabling undivided Bihar to contribute 50 per cent of the nation’s total raw silk production.

Mostly the tribals had been the rearers of silk worms before the bifurcation of Bihar, producing about 438 metric tonnes of tasar silk and about eight MT of mulberry silk every year - benefiting from natural races like laria, modia and sarihan in suitable agro climatic conditions of southern Bihar, now Jharkhand. It was largely because a total of 2,325 sq km area in the region is covered by tasar food plants, 90 per cent of which is Sal trees and the rest are Arjuna and Asan trees which attract silk worms - far behind of southern states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The story has been different since its emergence as a separate state with the production of cocoons coming down to 9 MT and that of mulberry to 2 MT per annum, according to a report of the state sericulture directorate. The state, however, recently received some hope when the Central Silk Board (CSB) chairman, Mr H Hanumanthappa promised to increase silk production in Jharkhand by 640 metric tonnes, funding Rs 383 crore over a period of 10 years.“Prospects of silk, particularly tasar, in Jharkhand is very good, and the board has earmarked the funds to enhance the production of silk,” Mr Hanumanthappa said after meeting state officers here.