After a dip during the pandemic years, over 13,000 new families have taken up sericulture in Karnataka over the past five years, contributing a 43% rise in cocoon production and a nearly 20% jump in raw silk output.
Several factors including support from the government, better cocoon prices and better availability of high-quality chawki (carefully reared young silkworms essential for good yields) have helped the industry regain momentum and expanded mulberry cultivation to 1.18 lakh hectares in 2024–25, the largest area under sericulture in 15 years.
Farmers also believe that demand for Karnataka silk has strengthened after the Centre banned China silk, which earlier dominated the market because of its lower cost. “The price of silk is around ₹7,000 to ₹7,500 a kg now, and in the coming months it may touch ₹9,000. During Covid, it had fallen below ₹2,000,” M. Pemme Kumar, a sericulturist said.
“Karnataka’s traditional silk belts- Ramanagara and Sidlaghatta which are known for producing some of India’s best cocoons- had witnessed farmers gradually exit sericulture, moving to horticulture over the past decade, largely due to volatile prices and competition from cheaper imported silk. The ban on China silk has brought some stability back to the market,” Bhupat Rajan, another grower said.
Officials from the Central Silk Board, however, believe that Chinese imports were not the primary reason for the earlier price crash, noting that the price of Chinese silk remains around ₹5,000 a kg.
Incentives draw growers back
The growers pointed out that government support has revived the industry significantly. “The State government raised the incentive for bivoltine cocoon producers from ₹10 to ₹30 a kg in the 2024–25 Budget. This attracted many growers,” Shantamma Nagaraju, a sericulturist said.
Reelers in decline
While demand has strengthened and prices have recovered from the pandemic lows, the sector continues to grapple with a shrinking number of reelers, a link in the value chain whose decline has itself contributed to the higher price of raw silk in recent years, the growers said.
Youth avoid labour-intensive craft
While the State government had announced an annual subsidy of ₹12 crore for raw silk reelers through the Karnataka Minority Development Corporation during last year’s Budget, many, specifically younger generations, are no longer entering into reeling because of low and irregular incomes, demanding working conditions and lack of mechanisation.
“Reeling, a labour-intensive process of extracting fine silk fibre from cocoons, is struggling to survive as this altogether lacks machinery and relies on skill, precision and hours of manual labour to produce high-grade yarn,” a grower said.
Published – December 04, 2025 07:41 pm IST
