New Delhi, July 19 (KNN) There is an increase of 10.52 per cent in total production of raw silk in 2018-19 as compared to year 2017-18. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world and the total raw silk production has seen an increase, said Smriti Irani, Union Textiles Minister.

Giving details to the Lok Sabha, Irani said, “In total four varieties of silk produced in 2018-19 that consists Mulberry 71.50 per cent (25,213 MT), Tussar 8.44 per cent (2,977 MT), Eri 19.40 per cent (6,839 MT) and Muga 0.66 per cent (232 MT) of the provisional total raw silk production of 35,261 MT.

"In the tenure of 2018-19 total production accounted 35,261 Metric Tonne (MT) against 31,906 MT in 2017-18 which is an increase of 10.52 per cent,” she informed the Parliament during question hour today.

The minister said, Central Silk Board (CSB), a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles, is encouraging production and export of silk.

CSB is implementing 'Silk Samagra', a Central Sector Scheme in order to benefit the farmers engaged in sericulture. This scheme focuses on increasing both productivity and quality of domestic silk with an aim to minimise the dependence of silk import into the country.

From this scheme, assistance is extended to sericulture stakeholders for the beneficiary components like Plantation with improved Mulberry varieties, raising of Kissan Nursery, Irrigation, Chawki Rearing Centres with incubation facility, construction of rearing houses besides others, she mentioned.