India is one of the largest producers of silk in the world. It manufactures four varieties of silk—mulberry, eri, tussar and muga. The first modern silk industry was set up at Howrah by the East India Company.
Mulberry Silk
This silk accounts for about 90% of the total natural produced silk in India. Mulberry silk is produced from silkworms which are reared from mulberry trees. The rearing of silkworms for producing silk is known as sericulture. Mulberry silk is produced mainly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Problems Faced by the Silk Industry
- Competition from artificial silk
- Import of better quality and cheap raw silk from China
- No systematic testing and grading of silk
- Lack modern power looms for increasing production
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Woollen Industry in India
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