EEI, Hyderabad organized online training on “Promotion of Export Management in Sericulture Sector” from 28th to 31st March 2022

Four day online off campus training programme was conducted from 28th – 31st March, 2022 under the visionary leadership of Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, EEI, Hyderabad to sericulture officers of Odisha. Owing to significance of sericulture which is employment intensive to over 9.1 million people in India with exports reaching US $243.52 million, EEI conducted training programme in this area to orient sericulture officers in attainment of sustainable development goals. In his inaugural address, The Director, EEI envisaged that the sericulture officers need to gear up to the challenges in the sector and enable the sericulture farmers for higher productivity and profitability through exports. He also reiterated that FPOs need to be promoted and made sustainable to achieve the purpose. Dr. P. Vijaya Lakshmi and Dr. A. Sailaja, Professors, EEI, Hyderabad coordinated the programme. Gamut of topics which enveloped the training curriculum were – employment opportunities for women in sericulture, production of bivoltine cocoons – need of the hour, extension strategies for competitiveness in sericulture, sustainability through sericulture, EXIM policy and financial assistance for sericulture exporters, promotion of entrepreneurship in sericulture, formation and strengthening of FPOs to promote seri exports, value chain management in the exports of sericulture products, practical orientation on exports of silk products. The sericulture officers were oriented to existing status, challenges, opportunities and a way forward to encourage exports in the sector. They could also gain knowledge from scientists of Central Silk Board who could enlighten them on strategic points – bivoltine silk production, exploring niche markets, diversifying products to meet international demand, brand image promotion and creation of Indian silk museum for export promotion. The trainees also gained the experience of management consultants in the formation of FPOs and strategies for strengthening them to promote exports. The participants also learnt foreign trade policy, EXIM policy, schemes promoted by GoI for increasing exports besides online certificate programmes in export and import management. In his valedictory address, Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, EEI restated that the officers need to be keen in effective and economical management of all resources in production – post production in sericulture with appropriate strategies like cluster approach and lead farmer concept in place. The officers need to facilitate farmers in silk value chain for 3P’s (to end poverty, protect planet and ensure prosperity) in the sector.