Bhubaneswar, Dec. 27: Peace is the mantra for the Central Silk Board.

Eager to make a mark in the global market, the Bangalore-based board has decided to lay emphasis on caterpillar-produced Vanya (wild) silk instead of mulberry silk.

“Peace silk means that the life cycle of a silk-producing caterpillar is allowed to complete naturally. Transformation of the caterpillar into a winged silk moth is complete. We don’t take a life and so it’s a peace-promoting yarn unlike the mulberry,” explained S. Shetty, director of the board, today.

A team from the board is in the city in connection with a five-day silk exhibition starting January 3.

The board, as part of its market promotion activities under the Vanya silk promotion cell, has planned to organise a series of exhibition-cum-buyer seller meets exclusively for wild silk during 2006-07 in cities such as Hyderabad, Delhi Mumbai, Bhubaneswar and Chandigarh.

The country produces around 17,305 MT of silk annually of which 15,445 MT comprise mulberry silk and 1,860 MT Vanya silk.

While there is “global competition for mulberry silk from countries such as China, there is no competition for Vanya silk as it is unique to India”, said deputy secretary of the board K.K. Shetty.

The director said while big farmers produce mulberry on a large scale, smaller entities are involved in the growth of the wild variety in forests.

“Cultivation of Vanya silk does not affect the flora as the process is eco-friendly,” said the deputy secretary.