The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a production decline and monetary loss at every stage of the value chain in the Indian silk industry, according to a government study, which found the silk industry has faced problems like loss in production, crash in cocoon and raw silk prices, transportation problems, non-availability of skilled workers, problems in selling raw silk and silk products, working capital and cash flow problems, non-availability of raw materials, reduction in demand for silk fabric, cancellation of export-import orders and export-import restrictions.
The government study, titled ‘Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Indian silk industry’, assessed the crisis caused to the sector by the pandemic, an official release said.The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a production decline and monetary loss at every stage of the value chain in the Indian silk industry, according to a government study, which found the silk industry has faced problems like loss in production, crash in cocoon and raw silk prices, non-availability of skilled workers and non-availability of raw materials.#
As the textile sector is highly unorganised, the government has not made any formal assessment regarding the losses incurred, minister of textiles Smriti Irani told Lok Sabha recently in a written reply.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)