NATIONAL SERICULTURE

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The project will help finance India's sericulture development through an important expansion phase. To achieve this, the project will provide: (i) support to the Central Silk Board (CSB), for development and expansion of its research and training activities; (ii) support to state-level development in the five major sericulture states, and assistance to pilot programs in twelve `new' states; (iii) emphasis on a greater role for the private sector in silkworm seed production, chawki rearing, and reeling; and (iv) in Jammu and Kashmir, support for the States' actions towards de-monopolization and liberalization of the industry. Funding will also be provided for: (v) increased production of high quality silk yarn through specific programs to promote biovoltin silk production; (vi) enhanced support for the role of women in sericulture: (vii) expansion of the activities of Non-Government Organization in sericulture; and (viii) a pioneering program to evaluate the impact of the project on intended beneficiaries using `beneficiaries assessment' techniques.