West Bengal government to take Japanese help to counter Chinese threat to silk

Kolkata, Nov 8 (PTI) The West Bengal government today said it will take the help of Japanese technology to develop the state's silk sector in a bid to counter the threat from silk produced by China. "Chinese silk is a threat. To counter this, we need to improve the quality of silk cocoons. We are trying for some tie-ups to use Japanese technology for this. The technology can revolutionise cocoon production," Textiles Minister Manas Bhuniya told newsmen. The technology has been implemented on an experimental basis at a cocoon farm at Kalimpong in Darjeeling district to very positive results, he said. Observing that silk products from Bengal were also losing market to those from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Bhuniya said it could be regained with the use of Japanese technology. Noting that the government was making efforts to develop the internationally-renowned Murshidabad silk as a brand, Bhuniya said the government had appointed a private consultant to recommend ways to improve the market for silk products from Bengal. In its initial report submitted to the government today, the consultant has recommended improvements in design, printing, weaving stitching and embroidery of silk products, Bhuniya said.