New Delhi, Mar 8 (KNN) Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani has said that India will be fully Atmanirbhar in Silk production in the next two years.

While addressing a programme on Sunday to announce an MoU between the Textiles Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry, she asserted,'' Raw silk production in the country has increased 35 per cent in the last six years and more than 90 lakh people have got employment in raw silk production. ''

Irani also informed that 8000 women thigh reelers were identified for providing Buniyaad machines and 5000 women have already been supported under Silk Samagra Phase I.

''For the remaining 3000 thigh reelers, fund provision has been made in order to eradicate Unhygienic and Obsolete Thigh Reeling Practice from the country,'' she added.

The minister further stated that this MOU signing will increase the agricultural income from 20 to 30 per cent. Referring to the PPE kits, in which India has become the second largest producer in the world, she said that India has the capability of creating history in Agro-Technical Textiles also.

She also asserted that farmers income has almost increased to 60 per cent by adopting Agro Technical Textile. She also said that consumption of agriculture based technical textiles will increase by involving Krishi Vigyan Kendra in creating awareness about Agro-tech and Technical textiles.

''This will lead the way for creation of new products,'' she said.

The Central Silk Board (CSB) under the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a convergence model for implementation of Agroforestry in the silk sector under the ongoing Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme, in the presence of Irani and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala here.

The MoU aims to incentivize the farmers to take up sericulture-based Agroforestry models thereby contributing to Make in India and Make for the World vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This linkage will add another dimension to agroforestry for faster returns to the growers as well as support the production of the range of silks that India is famous for.

The Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India will act as a catalyst to promote Agroforestry in the silk sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Parshottam Rupala said that the MOU signing will not only increase the income and production of farmers but will also remove the difficulties faced by them. He suggested linking the farmers dealing in silk production with Farmers Produce Organisations (FPO)for increasing their earnings.