Silk Production in India | List of Top 10 Silk Producing States

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Raw Silk Production in India
• Types of Silk Produced in India
• Top Silk Producing States in India
  • Karnataka
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Assam
  • Tamil Nadu
  • West Bengal
  • Meghalaya
  • Jharkhand
  • Maharashtra
  • Manipur
  • Nagaland
• Conclusion

Introduction

India has a strong history of silk rearing and producing silk, which is also known as “Queen of Textiles”. Sericulture industry in India provides employment to around 8.8 million population in semi-urban and rural areas. It is also a major foreign exchange earner. India ranks second in the world when it comes to raw silk production. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam together produce around 74% of raw silk in the country.

Raw Silk Production in India

As per the latest data available from Textile Ministry, during FY 2023, India produced 36,582 million tonnes (MT) of raw silk. Out of the total production, Mulberry silk accounted for nearly 74%, followed by Tasar, Eri, and Muga silk.

Among the states, Karnataka produced the highest silk during FY2023, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The Ramanagara district (Karnataka) is Asia's biggest market for silk cocoons.

The export of silk and silk products in 2022-23 was valued at USD 248.56 million. The silk products include handloom products, silk waste, readymade garments, fabrics & made-ups, natural silk yarn and raw silk.

Types of Silk Produced in India

India has the unique distinction of producing all five known silk in the world. These are:

• Mulberry
• Tropical Tasar
• Oak Tasar
• Eri
• Muga

Among, all these Muga silk is produced only in India. It has a yellow glitter and is a pride of India.

Top Silk Producing States in India

Here are the top 10 silk-producing states in India, highlighting their distinctive contributions to this thriving industry.

Karnataka

Home to renowned Mysore silk, Karnataka leads the pack with its vast mulberry plantations and skilled weavers. Karnataka is the leading silk producer in India, responsible for more than half of the country's total silk output.

The total production volume of raw silk in Karnataka was 11823 metric tons in FY 2023. The state is renowned for its high-quality silk, particularly mulberry silk. Key districts for silk production in Karnataka include Mysuru, Bengaluru Rural and Belagavi.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh, mainly in the Rayalaseema region, is the second-largest silk producer in India. The total production volume was around 9312 metric tons in FY 2023. The state is recognised for its top-notch silk types, including mulberry and tasar silk. Dharmavaram in Anantapur district is renowned for its beautiful silk sarees.

Assam

Assam produced a total of 5721 metric tons of raw silk in 2023. It is well-known for its golden silk called "Muga Silk." This special silk is exclusive to the region and is highly valued for its natural golden-yellow colour and strength. The state plays a significant role in India's silk industry, particularly in producing high-quality and diverse silk.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is renowned for its weaving traditions, and silk production is a significant part of it. The total production of the state stood at 2589 metric tons in 2023. The state specialises in silk varieties like Kanchipuram silk, Dharmavaram silk, and Arni silk. Places like Kanchipuram and Salem are known for their rich silk heritage.

West Bengal

West Bengal is known for its silk variety called "Bengal silk" or "Giccha silk." It has a rich tradition of silk weaving, and weaving centres like Murshidabad, Malda and Nadia are famous for their unique sarees and textiles. The total volume of raw silk produced in the state was 1966 metric tons.

Meghalaya

Meghalaya stands out for its Eri silk production. Eri silk, also known as Ahimsa silk or peace silk, is produced from the larvae of the silkworm Attacus ricini. The total production of raw silk stood at 1168 metric tons in FY 2023. Meghalaya's climate and forest cover provide an ideal environment for Eri silk production.

Jharkhand

The state produced a total of 874 metric tons of raw silk in FY 2023. Jharkhand is known for its Tussar silk, also called Kosa silk. Tussar silk is highly valued for its texture, natural gold sheen, and unique feel. The state produces a significant amount of Tussar silk, contributing to the Indian silk industry.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is known for its silk production, primarily Tussar silk. The state's Tussar silk is famous for its rich texture and natural colour variations. Areas like Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli are major silk-producing districts in Maharashtra. In FY 2023, the total production of raw silk for the state was 620 metric tons.

Manipur

Manipur is known for its expertise in producing Eri silk. The state's specific climate and native wild silkworms create favourable conditions for Eri silk cultivation. The Eri silk industry in Manipur plays a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of numerous local communities. The state produced 454 metric tons of raw silk in the financial year 2023.

Nagaland

Nagaland is famous for its rich cultural traditions and plays an important role in making silk. The total production of raw silk was 350 metric tons in FY 2023. The state focuses on making Eri silk, and it benefits from the good weather and soil for growing castor plants, which are the main food for Eri silkworms.

Conclusion

These ten states in India are really important for making silk, and they are a big part of the Indian silk industry. Each state has its own special way of making silk, like mulberry silk or wild silks such as Muga, Eri and Tussar. The skilled weavers in these regions, along with their rich cultural traditions, make Indian silk very popular all around the world.