Silk cluster unit opened in Sujapur

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 15: To fetch diversified silk manufacturing units in the district, Malda district officials today launched a silk cluster unit at Sujapur in Kaliachak block. The newly launched unit is the first-of-its-kind in Malda district.District officials said that nearly 300 silk farmers and traders related to silk industry would play a key role to boost up silk industries at Sujapur. The National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development extended financial support to the silk cluster development programme and for implementing its capacity building programme with the help of a non-government organisation. The organisation interacted with hundreds of artisans and studied the Kaliachak area, famous for traditional silkworm rearing, production of silk yarn and its trade for the past five months and submitted its report suggesting setting up of a silk cluster at Sujapur.The object of the project is to develop the artisans who would lead the development programme of silk industries forming a committee head by a government official. The NGO would engage in capacity building programmes with the help of the Nabard so that the group can venture into silk reeling, twisting, weaving and manufacturing silk garments locally. On the other hand, this group can also export finished silk items with the help of the concerned department.To implement the proposed project the Nabard would maintain link with the banks for financial assistance and with other departments for necessary development. NABARD would also help train local artisans by experts from the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training in Hyderabad, officials said. The Malda district magistrate, Sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, Nabard officials and other concerned officials today appreciated the move during the launch of the programme at Sujapur. Recently, a large number of silk yarn producers here have shifted from producing fine silk to coarse silk to make more profit as it has more demand in the export market. The project initiated today would support produc value added cloth based from silk yarn manufactured in Malda.A report shows that the Indian silk textile market collects 75 per cent of its total requirement of silk yarn from the Malda district.