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India is the second largest silk manufacturer (around 20000 MT) contributing to 18% of the total raw silk production. Sericulture is an important cottage industry in India contributing roughly to 5% of GDP. Majority of the raw silk is produced in Tamilnadu and Karnataka. The market share of Indian silk exports in the global silk trade is 4 to 5% which is quite insignificant. 85% of silk goods produced in India are sold in the domestic market and 15% are exported. In India, this industry provides livelihood to 6 million families spread over 59000 villages.

Innovations like eco-friendly silk where the silk is extracted from the cocoons without killing the silk worms are good trends that indicate the progress of the silk industry. The Sericulture Research Institute of Andhra Pradesh has developed a virus-resistant transgenic silkworm. This silkworm would help in stabilizing silk yield levels by reducing uncertainties like viral outbreaks.


The industry faces three major problems - gap between demand and supply, quality of cocoons and outdated reeling machines. In states like Bihar, where silk is weaved through power looms, shortage of power has crippled the industry.

The domestic demand of silk is about 28000 MT against which the production is around 18000 MT. Development of indigenous mulberry varieties with highest leaf yields in the world, new bivoltine silkworm hybrids suited to the tropical regions of the country, farmerfriendly technologies are positive indicators about the future prospects. Favorable climatic conditions will also propel the growth of this industry northwards.

  INDIAN silk industry AT A Glance IN 2012 - 2013

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