BANGALORE: The Union Government has started preparatory work on launching a Silk Technology Mission on the lines of the Cotton Technology Mission in a bid to boost domestic production and cut India's dependence on imports.

The Central Silk Board has been asked to come up with a document that will be deliberated at the Central Government level. "Before the 11th Plan is launched, we hope to be ready with the final draft of the document that will cover all aspects of silk production from plantation to reeling and even crop insurance", Basant Pratap Singh, Joint secretary, Union Ministry of Textiles, told reporters on the sidelines of the 20th Congress of the International Sericultural Commission, here on Thursday.

Mr. Singh disclosed that the Union Government would consider providing a 25 per cent subsidy to private entrepreneurs keen on setting up reeling machines to help big silk farmers increase cocoon production and get better prices. "The basic idea of the proposed new subsidy scheme for bigger units is to bring in private investments for the benefit of bigger farmers. Lot of investments have to come in reeling. This will increase the production of cocoons. Farmers will get better prices only if the demand for cocoon increases," Mr. Singh said.

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