In a bid to increase the wool quality and wool production in the country, the Government is planning to bring in Wool Technology Mission. It would be set with the association of Department of Animal Husbandry.
This was stated by the Minister of Textiles, Shri Shankersinh Vaghela while addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry. The Textiles Minister said that setting up of the Wool Technology Mission would require the active support of the State Governments.
Urging the Members of the Consultative Committee, the Textiles Minister said that they are required to look after the activities of Silk and Wool sectors in their States and help in promoting them.
Shri Vaghela said the export of woolen products and especially the carpet is contributing substantially in our total textiles exports during 2004-05,export earning from the sector was about 4522 crores. This monuments is to be maintained by keeping up by the technological upgradation and other essential inputs, he added.
Emphasizing the importance of Research and Development activities supported by the Government in the Silk sector, which has resulted in achieving better productivity and quality standards, the Minister said a package of practices has been developed for raising productivity.
The package include each stage of cocoon production, including pest management, disease control, development of more efficient rearing and cocooning equipment, eco-friendly methods of rearing, developing and popularizing reeling-cum-twisting machines and spinning wheels for reeled and spun silks of all sub-sectors with better agronomics, efficiency and productivities.
The Minister said that the ?ilk Mark Scheme?was launched to protect the consumers of silk since most of them are ignorant about the purity standards.
The Government has taken initiative to launch futures trading in cocoon and raw silk through National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange Ltd. (NCDEX), which can be effectively used as a tool to cover the risks associated with price fluctuations and to boost the production of silk in the country, he added.
