Why is Karnataka the largest producer of Mulberry silk?

Team Udayavani, Aug 8, 2020, 2:23 PM IST

Karnataka is the largest producer of mulberry silk in the country with a share of about 65%. Mulberry silk is of the highest quality and is made from silkworms that are raised in captivity under exacting conditions.  It is also the most expensive type of silk.

It is also 100% natural, odorless and hypoallergenic. Mulberry silk contains a natural protein called sericin that reduces the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Karnataka is the largest producer of mulberry silk because it has favourable climate for rearing silkworms. Also, the state has advanced technologies of silk-worm rearing, new species of mulberry and its circulation-techniques and large yielding silk-worm-breeds

The state produces 9,000 metric tons of mulberry silk and it is mainly produced in the Mysore district. It is said that the growth of the silk industry in the Kingdom of Mysore was first initiated during the reign of Tipu Sultan. In 1785 he sent people to Bengal to learn sericulture and to establish the same in his Mysore Kingdom

Sources claim, Mysore silk is produced by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited (KSIC) which was founded in 1912 by Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore.

The factory manufactured and supplied silk fabrics to meet the requirements of the royal family However, After India gained independence, the Mysore State Sericulture Dept. took control of the silk weaving factory.

Later, In 1980, the factory was handed over to KSIC, a government of Karnataka industry