Odisha's Bold Investment in Silk: A Game Changer for Local Farmers

Odisha's government has announced a significant investment of Rs 274 crore over five years to enhance the silk industry, focusing on sericulture development. This initiative includes training programs for farmers, insurance coverage, and support for women in the sector. With a rich tradition in silk production, particularly Tasar, the state aims to improve livelihoods for thousands of families. The commitment to revitalize the spinning unit and the recognition of farmers' contributions highlight the government's dedication to this sustainable agricultural practice. Learn more about how this investment is poised to transform the local economy and support rural communities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 20, 2026, 09:04 IST

Significant Investment in Sericulture

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has unveiled an ambitious initiative to allocate Rs 274 crore over the next five years aimed at enhancing the silk industry within the state, as announced by Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, the Director of Textiles and Handlooms.

To bolster the sericulture sector, the government plans to conduct 11 training sessions within a year, targeting 165 participants in their native languages, Upadhyay mentioned.

Additionally, the state is working on establishing sericulture centers for cocoon cultivation, providing insurance for sericulture farmers, and creating special hostel facilities along with training programs for women involved in this field. Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts department, stated, “Sericulture has become a viable, year-round source of income that offers stable financial opportunities for rural families.”

During the launch of the inaugural training program focused on ‘Tasar host plant nursery and its management’ organized by the Odisha State Sericulture Research and Training Institute (OSSR&TI), she noted that approximately 15,000 traditional families, comprising around one lakh individuals, rely on sericulture in Odisha.

India is known for producing four primary types of silk—Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga—each varying in terms of host plants, life cycles, cocoon features, silk quality, color, and strength. Tasar cultivation remains a traditional agricultural practice in Odisha, with over 46,828 Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste families participating across 14 hilly districts, including Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Keonjhar. The state generates more than 50,000 Tasar cocoons each year, yielding nearly Rs 6 crore in income for tribal farmers with minimal investment in seed materials.

Eri sericulture is also prevalent in districts such as Cuttack, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur, covering around 1,000 acres and supporting nearly 2,000 farmers. The annual output is about seven metric tonnes of Eri cocoons, valued at approximately Rs 14 lakh.

Mulberry sericulture is another significant traditional practice, occurring in 12 districts, including Gajapati and Rayagada. Odisha produces an average of 40,000 kg of Mulberry cocoons annually, assisting nearly 1,000 ST and SC farmers in earning around Rs 50 lakh each year.

Emphasizing the government's comprehensive strategy to enhance the sector, Guha reaffirmed its dedication to improving the livelihoods of sericulture farmers and announced plans to revitalize the spinning unit located in Bhagamunda, Keonjhar district. She also recognized the farmers' contributions, highlighting that Odisha achieved the top rank in the sericulture review conducted by the Central Silk Board, crediting this success to the persistent efforts of the state's sericulture community.