Mysuru: The announcement of a silk park at Thandavapura Industrial Area in Mysuru in the budget has come as a major boost for those involved in sericulture.The initiative is expected to modernise the sector, weave, enhance quality silk production, and improve the incomes of farmers and weavers across Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, once known for thriving sericulture activity.Mysuru District Farmers Federation vice-president Attahalli Devaraj told TOI, “As govt announced the establishment of the silk park in Mysuru, district administration officials must expedite the setting up of the unit in the home district of CM Siddaramaiah after taking up necessary approvals for the commissioning of the park.”The establishment of the park helps cocoon post-processing like reeling, weaving, digital embroidery, twisting, packaging, quality testing, creating marketing facilities, and several other aspects. It also boosts high-quality silk production and increases the income of farmers, weavers, and silk reelers of the region. Many of them were involved in the twin districts of Mysuru-Chamarajanagar, which was once famous for sericulture, allied mulberry cultivation, cocoon, and silk production.The establishment of the park helps women entrepreneurs who are involved in weaving and reeling silk in the districts. As the state govt set up cocoon markets in Kollegal and APMC in Mysuru, the establishment of the park facilitates the sericulture marketing promotion activities.About 34,153 growers have taken up sericulture activities in 13,780 hectares, including 2,500 hectares in the twin districts of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.Deputy director of sericulture Rachappaji said that the state govt has announced the establishment of a silk park in Thandavapura in Mysuru along with Sidlaghatta, Ramanagara, Haveri, and Kalaburagi. Once the department receives the official communiqué, it will take further steps for the establishment of the silk park after coordinating with the department of commerce and industries, district administration in this regard.
