Sardarkrushinagar, Palanpur: As part of the 100-day activities under the Viksit Bharat initiative, the Government of India introduced the Eri Sericulture Promotional Project in Gujarat’s castor-growing regions on August 10, 2024. The project, aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt sericulture for additional income, was inaugurated by Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, with Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, and Rachna Shah, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, also in attendance.
The launch event, held in Sardarkrushinagar, attracted more than 1,200 participants, including 860 registered farmers, along with students and faculty from Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU), and media representatives. Officials from the Central Silk Board were also present to offer their support.
The project is aimed at promoting Eri culture in the castor-rich districts of Banaskantha, Mehsana, Patan, and Sabarkantha in Gujarat, encouraging farmers to incorporate sericulture into their existing farming practices. This initiative comes after the successful introduction of Eri culture in these areas, which has generated considerable enthusiasm among local farmers.
During the awareness campaign, conducted across 112 villages, more than 2,100 farmers expressed interest in the project. Village-level training programs have already been initiated, with 817 farmers participating. Infrastructural developments, including the establishment of four late-age rearing houses and an Eri Chawki Rearing Centre (CRC), are underway to facilitate rearing operations. Additionally, four Sericulture Resource Centers (SRCs) have been established to provide hands-on training and support to farmers.
A key feature of the project’s promotional activities is the use of LED display vehicles to raise awareness in castor-growing regions. The campaign is designed to evaluate, optimize, and popularize the Eri culture technologies developed by the Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute (CMER&TI) in collaboration with the Kalyan Foundation. The project initially focuses on 100 selected farmers, with plans to expand the initiative to an additional 500 farmers based on the success of the first phase.
With 6.52 lakh hectares of land under castor cultivation, Gujarat has the potential to become a major hub for Eri silk production. The project not only offers farmers an additional source of income but also supports the sustainable growth of the silk industry in the state. The collaboration between the Central Silk Board, the Government of Gujarat, and local farmers is expected to bring substantial economic and social benefits to the region.
Giriraj Singh, during his inaugural address, emphasized the importance of the initiative in transforming the silk industry in Gujarat: “By integrating sericulture with castor farming, we are creating new avenues for farmers, contributing to economic growth, and establishing Gujarat as a key player in India’s silk industry.”
The project aims to set a benchmark for sericulture expansion into non-traditional areas. If successful, the initiative could serve as a model for other states across India to adopt Eri sericulture, helping to boost the country’s overall silk production.
Through this project, the Central Silk Board (CSB) envisions Gujarat becoming a significant contributor to India’s Eri silk output, enhancing the state’s economy and further strengthening the nation’s position in the global silk industry.
