New Delhi. Government has decided to include sericulture and allied activities in Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to be eligible for funding under RKVY. It will cover sericulture up to the stage of cocoon production along with extension system for cocoon production and silk yarn production in agri-enterprise up to the marketing.

The benefits of RKVY can now be availed for improvement of sericulture extension system, enhancement of soil health development of rain fed sericulture and for integrated pest management. The benefits available will be for improving silkworm seeds base and for mechanization of the sector. The decision will help provide support for development of market infrastructure and promotion of Seri enterprise. Projects can be taken up to support non-farm activities and special schemes can be sanctioned to beneficiaries of land reforms such as marginal and small farmers etc. to maximize return to the sericulture farmer.

Giving his views on this important decision, Thiru. Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Textiles, said that extension of the benefit is likely to give a significant boost to the sericulture activities, which was witnessing a declining trend for the last few years in the absence of attractive price and adequate incentive support system. The Government of India is in the process of formulating the National Fibre Policy in which the sericulture and Silk sector has been recognized as a very important component for growth of the natural fibre sector. Production of raw silk in the country needs to be launched on a higher growth projectile and the inclusion of this sector in RKVY has provided the much needed impetus in this direction, the Minister added. This will provide a major thrust for modernizing and strengthening the sector as the infusion of funds will help the sector through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Thiru Maran urged the State Government to prepare projects and avail maximum benefits from the scheme for production of high-quality silk which would consolidate India’s position in the international market.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) was introduced during XI Plan as an Additional Central Assistance Scheme to incentivize the States to draw up plans for Agriculture and Allied sectors to supplement state specific strategies including special schemes for beneficiaries of land reforms. The objective of the scheme is to promote public investment in agriculture and allied sectors.