Mysuru: The time is ripe for establishing a full-fledged silk cocoon auction market in Mysuru district. In response to the growing demand, the District Administration has earmarked two acres of land at Survey No. 44 in Hosahundi, Mysuru taluk, for the Sericulture Department to build a dedicated auction facility.

Since Feb. 24, 2019, a Government-owned silk cocoon auction market has been operating from a rented building within the Bandipalya APMC Yard on Mysuru-Nanjangud Road. However, with the increasing supply of silk cocoons, the current space has become inadequate to handle the volume, prompting the need for expansion.

To address this, the Sericulture Department submitted a proposal requesting two acres of land for a permanent auction facility. The proposal was approved, and the new market will be established in Hosahundi, just 2 km from Bandipalya.

Currently, mulberry is cultivated on 18,333 hectares across Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts, involving 35,458 sericulture farmers. Additionally, hundreds of reelers are engaged in silk reeling.

The existing silk market at Bandipalya APMC Yard operates in a building measuring 80×37 feet, accommodating a maximum of three tonnes of silk cocoons daily. However, Government incentives to boost mulberry cultivation and silk rearing have led to a steady increase in supply.

Previously, sericulture farmers from Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya had to travel to markets in Malavalli, Ramanagara, Sidlaghatta and Channapatna. The establishment of the Bandipalya auction facility significantly reduced this burden, providing a local trading hub.

The Bandipalya APMC Yard spans 86 acres, serving both farmers and traders. However, with three acres already allocated for coconut trading, cold storage units and solid waste management, no additional space is available for expanding sericulture operations.

The upcoming Hosahundi facility will address this gap, ensuring a more efficient and dedicated space for silk cocoon trading.

To benefit farmers

With the rise in sericulture farmers, transactions at the Bandipalya APMC Yard’s silk cocoon market have increased significantly. The current facility can store a minimum of 2,000 kg and a maximum of 3,000 kg of silk cocoons, leaving no room for additional stock. In response to farmers’ demands for a full-fledged market, the District Administration has allocated land for the purpose. Until the new facility is constructed, the market will continue to operate at Bandipalya APMC Yard. The new facility will benefit the farmers.

—Rachappa, Deputy Director,  Sericulture Department, Mysuru