By IANS,
Srinagar, June 21 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir will have two exclusive silk production centres within the next 18 months, Union Minister for Textiles Shankarsinh Vaghela said here Saturday.
The silk clusters will come up in Nowshera in Jammu region and in Srinagar.
“The cluster scheme will provide all farm and rearing implement support to the farmers besides technical help in creating self-help groups especially of unemployed youth,” the minister said.
Vaghela said: “Kashmir was known all over for its exquisite handicrafts and there was need to further develop and modernise this sector.”
The silk clusters are being developed at an investment of Rs.40 million.
The state’s 350,000 artisans produce handicrafts worth Rs.16 billion annually out of which products worth Rs.14 billion are exported.
State carpets alone contributes Rs.12 billion to annual export income.
The two silk clusters are expected to help increase that share substantially and modernise the traditional silk sector.
The central government has already developed two entrepreneurship development institutes and international trade centres in the state to modernise handicrafts manufacturing and marketing.
Vaghela also promised to help modernisation of 40,000 carpet handlooms in the Kashmir valley.
He said the government has targeted to raise handicrafts exports to Rs.20 billion in the next two years.
The minister along with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology and Craft Development in Srinagar.