Karnataka Sericulture: On March 6, 2026, Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a significant policy shift to support sericulture farmers in North Karnataka. The transportation subsidy for these farmers has been doubled from ₹10 to ₹20 per kilogram for selling their cocoons at government markets.
This announcement was made during the presentation of the State Budget for 2026-27 in Bengaluru. The measure is expected to benefit farmers from Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka regions, who often transport their produce to larger markets in southern Karnataka, such as Ramanagara, to secure better prices.
Retired Deputy Director of Sericulture, N.Y. Chigari, explained that the increased subsidy aims to encourage farmers to engage more with government markets, which offer transparency and protection from middlemen exploitation. The central government has also permitted the sale of cocoons in the open market, further supporting this initiative.
Karnataka is pioneering in implementing cashless online auction platforms across its major cocoon markets. Additionally, the government plans to establish Chawki Rearing Centres in collaboration with Farmer Producer Organisations to provide affordable silkworms, breaking the monopoly of private centres.
Looking forward, the establishment of Silk Parks in various districts and the continued investment in sericulture infrastructure underscore Karnataka’s commitment to maintaining its status as India’s silk capital, responsible for 46% of national production.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 6, 2026
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