Keonjhar produces 24 MT of tasar silk, 18% of Odisha's total

The question asked the Ministry of Textiles to provide details on the assessment of tasar silk potential, proposed cluster establishment, financial assistance under schemes like Silk Samagra, and steps taken to improve tribal incomes and infrastructure in Keonjhar district, Odisha.

Asked and answered by: Asked by Shri Ananta Nayak; Answered by the Minister of Textiles (Shri Giriraj Singh).

What the government said

• Keonjhar produced 24 MT of raw silk in 2025-26, accounting for 18% of Odisha's total production.
• Tasar sericulture is practiced by around 4,000 families across 325 villages in 8 blocks.
• Growers are organized into 13 Primary Tasar Cooperative Societies.
• A Basic Seed Multiplication and Training Centre (BSM&TC) of the Central Silk Board has been established in Keonjhar.
• The Government of Odisha established a Tasar Silk Park at Bhagamunda for reeling, weaving, and marketing.
• Central assistance of ₹4.43 crore was provided to Odisha under Silk Samagra-2 (2021-22 to 2025-26), with ₹84.85 lakh allocated to Keonjhar.
• Odisha state government provided ₹3.22 crore under POSI, ₹2.99 crore under OMBADC, and ₹24.79 crore under DMF for Keonjhar.
• BSM&TC Keonjhar supplied 4.13 lakh Disease-Free Layings (DFLs) and trained 170 persons in the last five years.
• The 'Mera Resham Mera Abhiman' campaign benefited 459 participants, including 160 women and 405 tribals.
• Odisha established 2 permanent host plant nurseries at Banspal and Bhagamunda.

Also in the document

• The answer confirms that Keonjhar has been accorded priority for strengthening the tasar silk value chain through coordinated central and state interventions.
• The answer specifies that the central assistance figures cover the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.