(The Gist of Kurukshetra) SERICULTURE

[APRIL-2018]

Sericulture

Sericulture is one of the labour intensive cottage industries involving mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing and egg production, reeling and weaving of the loom and other post cocoon processes like twisting, dyeing, painting, finishing etc. along with the utilization of by products, offering a most promising alternative agricultural activity. Sericulture is a way of life in India. Sericulture promotes self‘ employment and other livelihood activities in the rural economy and helps to accelerate income and provides employment opportunities to 35 million people and is practiced in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal (Mulberry Silk) Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and North-Eastern States (Non-Mulberry Silk)

India has the unique distinction of being the only country producing all the five known commercial silks, namely, Mulberry, Tropical Tasar, Oak Tasar, Eri and Muga, of which Muga with its golden yellow glitter is unique and prerogative of indie. Mulberry sericulture is mainly practiced in five states namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Bodoland, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu. North East has the unique distinction of being the only region producing four varieties of silk viz., Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Muga and Eri. Overall NE region contributes 18 per cent of India’s total silk production. lndia is the second largest producer of silk in the world. Among the four varieties of silk produced In 2016-17, Mulberry accounts for 718% (20,434 MT), Tasar 9.9% (2,818 MT), Eri 17.8% (5,054 MT) and Muga 0.6% (166 MT) of the total raw silk production of 28,472 MT. The demand for superior quality bivoltine silk is increasing in india for domestic consumption as well as value added silk products for the export market. The ministry of textiles Government of India and Department of Sericulture in various states provide technical and financial assistance for enhancing the bivoltine silk production.

Types of Silk

India is home to a vast variety of silk secreting fauna. There are mainly five varieties of silk produced in India such as Mulberry, Tropical Tsar, Oak Tasar, Eri and Muga. Silk from other than Mulberry are known as vanya silk.

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Courtesy: Kurukshetra