Revitalising silk sector

The glorious sector has been facing a critical time due to price hike of imported China silk yarn and decline of its local production

Silk sector in Bangladesh is lagging behind despite its immense prospects.  President of Bangladesh Silk Industries Owners Association, Liakat Ali, said that boosting production of local yarn could help revitalizing the silk sector to regain its lost legacy alongside meeting up the existing local demands, according to a report in this newspaper on Saturday. At present, silk yarn production does not show much promise. The glorious sector has been facing a critical time due to price hike of imported China silk yarn and decline of its local production.  
There is no alternative to boosting up the grassroots yarn production through proper utilization of the existing natural and other infrastructural resources. The price of China silk was Tk 2,250 per kilogram a couple of years ago but the current price has gone up at least three to four times more and that is beyond capacity of many of the silk manufacturers.
In this adverse situation, by enhancing local production the sector can be salvaged. What is needed now is an urgent initiative to retain the skilled labourers including the reelers, weavers and printers, to protect the sector as a whole.
The country produces around 35-40 metric tonnes of yarns against the annual demand of around 300 tonnes at present. The demand of local yarn has started rising due to price hike of imported silk. The cocoon rearers would become interested to enhance their production if they get reasonable price of their produce.
With the rapid population growth, consumption of silk products is also increasing. Reviving the past glory of the sector is of prime importance. Importance should be given on providing necessary support and inputs like disinfectant eggs, high yielding mulberry plants, technical support and soft loan for construction of rearing house along with ensuring sound marketing facilities to the rearers. Apart from this, sericulture, a labour-intensive agro-based industry, is ideally suited to the socio-economic condition of the country and the sector cover both agriculture and industry.
Promotion and expansion of sericulture throughout the country could contribute a lot to eradicate the acute poverty of the hardcore people of the rural Bangladesh. As a cottage industry, all family members can work and earn supplementary income in sericulture as it facilitates four to five crops in a year and ensures more income requiring less investment and training. The government should now turn to the silk sector. 

 

Revitalising silk sector

The glorious sector has been facing a critical time due to price hike of imported China silk yarn and decline of its local production

Silk sector in Bangladesh is lagging behind despite its immense prospects. President of Bangladesh Silk Industries Owners Association, Liakat Ali, said that boosting production of local yarn could help revitalizing the silk sector to regain its lost legacy alongside meeting up the existing local demands, according to a report in this newspaper on Saturday. At present, silk yarn production does not show much promise. The glorious sector has been facing a critical time due to price hike of imported China silk yarn and decline of its local production. There is no alternative to boosting up the grassroots yarn production through proper utilization of the existing natural and other infrastructural resources. The price of China silk was Tk 2,250 per kilogram a couple of years ago but the current price has gone up at least three to four times more and that is beyond capacity of many of the silk manufacturers. In this adverse situation, by enhancing local production the sector can be salvaged. What is needed now is an urgent initiative to retain the skilled labourers including the reelers, weavers and printers, to protect the sector as a whole. The country produces around 35-40 metric tonnes of yarns against the annual demand of around 300 tonnes at present. The demand of local yarn has started rising due to price hike of imported silk. The cocoon rearers would become interested to enhance their production if they get reasonable price of their produce. With the rapid population growth, consumption of silk products is also increasing. Reviving the past glory of the sector is of prime importance. Importance should be given on providing necessary support and inputs like disinfectant eggs, high yielding mulberry plants, technical support and soft loan for construction of rearing house along with ensuring sound marketing facilities to the rearers. Apart from this, sericulture, a labour-intensive agro-based industry, is ideally suited to the socio-economic condition of the country and the sector cover both agriculture and industry. Promotion and expansion of sericulture throughout the country could contribute a lot to eradicate the acute poverty of the hardcore people of the rural Bangladesh. As a cottage industry, all family members can work and earn supplementary income in sericulture as it facilitates four to five crops in a year and ensures more income requiring less investment and training. The government should now turn to the silk sector.