SERICULTURE

Sericulture is the art and technology of raising silk worms which are meant for production of raw silk yarn. This agro- based industry today is not just limited to just rearing of worms, but even includes all activities related to such field, like mulberry cultivation and even also for post-cocoon technology. It requires both the technical know-how and even specialization. Sericulture is a unique technique of silk production. It is an agro – industry, playing an eminent role in most of the Rural economies. Silk fibre is a protein which is produced from the silk – glands of the silk worms. In India, over and above three million people are employed in various fields of sericulture.

It is a cottage industry and provides various kind of opportunities ample work for the women in the rural areas while men work in the fields. Innovative researches by various research institutes have also shown that mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing have turned sericulture into an industry. It has become a major cash crop for the country.Today China and Japan are the two main producers of the silk yarn; together they are producing over 50% of the total world production each year.India is the second largest producer of raw silk after China and the biggest consumer of raw silk and silk fabrics. The trends in international silk production suggests that sericulture has better prospects for growth in the developing countries rather than in the developed countries.

Silk production in temperate countries like Japan, South Korea, USSR, etc., is declining steadily not only because of the high cost of labor and heavy industrialization in these countries, but also due to climatic restrictions imposed on it. But, India because of its tropical climate, has a distinct advantage of practicing sericulture all through the year, yielding a stream of about 4 – 6 crops. Sericulture is a farm-based, labour intensive and commercially attractive economic activity falling under the cottage and small -scale sector. It particularly suits rural -based farmers, entrepreneurs and artisans, as it requires low investment but, has potential for relatively higher returns. It provides income and employment to the rural poor especially farmers with small land - holdings and the marginalized and weaker sections of the society.




Sericulture mostly needs less investment, a very small land holding and gives higher returns. It provides better career options to the job seekers and entrepreneurs. India has a large domestic market for all the silk goods and about 85% of silk goods produced are sold in the domestic market itself. However, India exports approximately 15% of its output of all types of silk goods. The export of silk products has shown a steady growth and the export earnings have also increased during the last decade. In such a scenario, exploitation of silk market would really give India a boost in the economic field and new openings in such a growing sector will really become a boon for the job-seekers.

Several socio- economic studies have shown that in the field of sericulture the cost ratio is highest among comparable agricultural crops. In such a scenario, it has better prospects for the youths to adopt sericulture and its related activities as a career. India is mostly home to vast variety of silk because of diversity of silk moths. This has enabled India to achieve the unique distinction of being a producer of all the five commercially traded varieties of natural silks namely, Tropical Tasar, Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Eri and Muga. Silk obtained from sources other than mulberry are generally termed as non - mulberry or Vanya Silks.The bulk of the commercial silk being produced in the world is mulberry silk that comes from the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori L. which feeds solely on the leaves of the mulberry plant.

Tasar silk is mainly copperish in colour and is mainly used for furnishing for interior decorations and secreted by the Tropical Tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta which thrives on Asan and Arjun trees. Oak Tasar is very much finer variety of Tasar produced by the temperate Tasar silkworm, Antheraea which feeds on natural oak plants and is found in abundance in the sub - Himalayan belt. Eri silk is mainly spun from open-ended cocoons and secreted by the domesticated silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini feeds mainly on castor leaves. Muga silk is golden yellow in colour and is exclusively produced in Assam. Muga silk is secreted by Antheraea assama that mostly feeds on aromatic leaves of naturally growing Som and Sualu plants. In India where agriculture being most of the occupation of majority of population residing in the countryside new innovation in the field of agricultural techniques can play a vital role in improving the economic conditions of the masses if proper attention is given to it.



Lecturer (Sericulture): M.Sc. (Sericulture) / Four Year B.Sc degree in Silk Technology (Sericulture) can apply for lecturer in Sericulture.
Instructor (Sericulture): 4 Year B.Sc degrees in Silk Technology (Sericulture) are eligible for applying for the post of Instructors.
Lab Assistant: B.Sc (Sericulture) or PG Diploma in Sericulture.



Development Officer in State / District Khadi Board. There are various posts in Central government agencies like Central Export Promotion Council / FAQ / NABARD / Krishi Vigyan Kendra / Silk Board, etc Professionals who usually undergo proper training can earn starting salaries as high as Rs 15000/- per month in public sector and even higher in private sector and NGOs. This grows in accordance with the experience gained. Entrepreneurs, especially those who set up business as exporters of silk products, can look forward to excellent gains.

Sericulture Some prominent institutes which are offering rural management courses in India are: Sericulture is quite popular in southern India and now is also available as course option in Northern India too. Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute in Mysore College of Agriculture in Bangalore Shivaji University in Kolhapur Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu University of Agricultural Sciences. Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra, Campus Bangalore.

Undergraduate courses: 10+2 with science,

Undergraduate courses: 4 years

Postgraduate courses: Bachelor's degree in agriculture, sericulture or any agricultural field, Postgraduate courses: 2 year