Minister in charge of Chamarajanagar district K. Venkatesh visiting the sericulture development centre at B.R. Hills in the district on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh has said that Chamarajanagar district was once famous for sericulture and that farmers’ interest in silk cultivation has declined over a period of time following improvements in irrigation projects.

Also, there has been a decline in silk production even in countries like China and Japan, he added.

Mr. Venkatesh, who is also the Minister in charge of Chamarajanagar district, was speaking to reporters during his visit to the sericulture development centre at B.R. Hills on Wednesday.

The Minister said silk farming has picked up in North Karnataka as farmers there are showing more interest. Steps will be taken to encourage sericulture farmers in Chamarajanagar and help increase production, he said.

He said it is especially important to encourage reelers and that farmers need to be motivated to take up silk farming. Accordingly, officials have been instructed to prepare a detailed report on sericulture development in the district, he said.

The Minister said a sum of ₹15 crore has been released to encourage sericulture farmers and increase production in the district. In the recent special Cabinet meeting held at M.M. Hills, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed that a comprehensive report on programmes required for sericulture development be submitted, he said.

Replying to a question, Mr. Venkatesh said measures will also be taken to address the staff shortage in the sericulture department.

During his inspection of Biligiri Rangana Betta Sericulture Center, the Minister collected information about its functioning.

Officials at the centre told the Minister that about 38 acres of the centre have been encroached upon. There is an issue with wild animals straying onto the premises. To prevent intrusion, a railway barricade is necessary. The silk factories within the premises are very old and dilapidated, and there is a shortage of staff for managing the center.

They appealed to him to modernise the centre.

Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag, zilla panchayat CEO Mona Roth, Superintendent of Police B.T. Kavita, director of the Karnataka State Sericulture Research and Development Institute Shri Roopa, and other officials were present.