SILK

Focus will be on achieving international standard in all varieties of silk. Steps will include:

• Improving Research & Development and the effective transfer of technology at all stages;
• Considerably improving the production of non-mulberry varieties of silk;
• Augmenting efforts for the spread of bivoltine sericulture;
• Encouraging clustering of activities of reeling and weaving and strengthen linkages between the producers and industry;
• Periodically reviewing the import policy for raw-silk taking into account the balanced interests of the sericulturists as well as the export manufacturers.

WOOL

In order to augment availability of quality wool, the following measures will be initiated:

• Take up collaborative research projects with the leading wool producing countries of the world;
• Encourage private breeding farms to increase productivity;
• Promote private sector linkages for marketing of wool;
• Establish pre-loom and post-loom processing facilities;
• Take up an integrated development programme for angora wool.

JUTE

Government recognises the significance of jute in India's economy, especially for the Eastern and North-eastern parts of the country. Realising the problems of the jute economy and the need to make it more competitive, a Technology Mission on Jute will be launched to achieve the following objectives:

• Develop high yielding seeds to improve productivity and acceptability in markets;
• Improve retting practices to get better quality fibre;
• Transfer cost effective technologies to the farmers;
• Create strong market linkages;
• Expand the scope for marketing of diversified jute products within the country and abroad.