By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 29: The Ministry of Textiles has identified the Geographical Indication (GI) tag awarded to Meghalaya’s traditional Ryndia fabric (Eri silk) as one of the most notable achievements of India’s textiles sector in 2025.
The GI recognition of Ryndia was cited amid a period of significant expansion in the country’s silk and sericulture sectors, retaining India’s position as the world’s second-largest silk producer.
Key performance indicators showed marked improvement in the decade leading up to 2024-25. Raw silk production rose to 41,121 metric tonnes in 2024-25, a 55 per cent increase from 26,480 metric tonnes in 2013-14. Silk productivity improved by 16.75 per cent, climbing from 96 kg per hectare to 112 kg per hectare during the same period. Furthermore, Mulberry cocoon prices grew substantially by 46 per cent, moving from Rs 384 per kg in 2013-14 to Rs 560 per kg in 2024-25.
Employment in the sericulture sector expanded significantly, growing by 23.95 per cent, from 78 lakh people in 2013-14 to 98 lakh people in 2024-25.
The sector remains vital for sustaining rural livelihoods and enhancing women’s economic participation.
The GI tag for Meghalaya’s Ryndia is a landmark development that has directly led to higher incomes for cocoon farmers, increased rural employment, greater involvement of women, and the promotion of sustainable and eco-friendly silk production through GI-based branding.
