Chamarajanagara: The border District was also called as Reshme Nadu (sericulture land) during the 1980s as thousands of farmers had taken sericulture. During the time sericulture was taken up in 10-12 thousand hectares of land. But later on, owing to diseases, the price of silk fell, and farmers lost interest in silk and took up other crops. But now again farmers are showing interest in sericulture.
According to Sericulture Department, silk is being cultivated in 1200hectares of land. The District has three sericulture thread factories but all three not functioning at present. The Mudigunda factory in Kollegala Taluk, Santhemarahalli factory and Chamarajanagara factory was closed long back as production of silk declined in the District. It is more important to revive these three factories to boost Sericulture in the District. The sericulturists in the District are waiting for State Budget hoping that the Government would announce a package to boost Sericulture.
During 2019 – 20 Budget Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy announced Rs. 5 Crore for reviving the Mudigunda Silk factory and Rs. 2 Crore for installing reeling machinery in Santhemarahalli silk thread factory. But the announcement is still on paper, and not even a single rupee released by the Government so far.
Earlier Santhemarahalli silk factory was providing employment for more than 300 women. The restarting of the factory would provide employment for rural women as they are facing unemployment. Many families are migrating to Kodagu District to work in coffee estates.
Villagers say that the District is already backward in industrial development, and if Government announces some grant for reopening of the factory it will also help boost industrialisation in the District and provide direct and provide indirect employment to thousands of people.
Speaking to NewsKarnataka, Puttaiah, a former employee of the silk factory said that the Government closed the factory due to a shortage of silk a decade ago. If BJP State Government announces some grant in the next budget that would be much helpful for women as the District has good potential for Sericulture.
