Experts Tasked to Boost Raw Silk Production to 54,000 Tonnes by 2030

Quick Summary

• Central Silk Board (CSB) Member Secretary P. Sivakumar inaugurated the two-day ‘host Plant Breeders Meet 2025’ at the Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) in Mysuru on July 8, 2025.
• The meet focused on innovative strategies to double silk production by 2030, aiming to achieve a target of producing 54,000 metric tonnes of raw silk and positioning India as a global leader in silk production.
• India’s raw silk production increased from 31,906 metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 38,913 metric tonnes in 2023-24.
• The event gathered prominent breeders and scientists specializing in mulberry and vanya host plants (tassar, Muga, and Eri).Discussions emphasized developing climate-resilient plants with higher yield potential.
• Mr. Sivakumar underscored the strategic importance of research for self-reliance in quality silk production while advocating industry applications like pharmaceuticals and tourism tied to mulberry/vanya plants.
• Former CSRTI Director S.B. Dandin acknowledged progress but highlighted challenges such as pest resistance and drought tolerance that require leveraging advanced technologies like AI, biotechnology, nanotechnology for commercialization efforts.
• CSB’s Director (Technical),S. Manthira Moorthy stressed formulating a long-term roadmap focusing on innovation for developing host plant hybrids with superior leaf quality.
• A proposal was mentioned regarding establishing a National sericulture Museum in Mysuru.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Host Plant Breeders Meet signals India’s aspirations as it works towards becoming a frontrunner globally within sericulture by achieving targeted goals for raw silk output by leveraging scientific advancements across breeding strategies and host plant optimization frameworks which would deepen domestic sustainability contributing efficiency refinements  Key focus pivots sustainable economic return eco-climate dependency