Sericulture is cottage-based Industry which broadly encompasses four Independent activities- Mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, silk reeling and weaving, printing and dying. Being less Capital intensive and more labour Intensive, Sericulture can boost rural economy as shown below:
CURRENT SCENARIO OF SERICULTURE INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Production: India has the unique distinction of being the only country producing all kinds of commercially exploited natural silks namely, Mulberry, Eri, Muga, Oak Tasar and Tropical Tasar. However, mulberry silk is the dominant one and contributes to about 70 per cent of the country’s raw silk production. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China. China and India together account for about 98 per cent of the global raw silk production.
Challenges: Decline in area under Mulberry cultivation; Irrigation facilities are available only for 50 per cent of mulberry area; Lower yield of Cocoon; Declining organic carbon level with adverse effects of excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on soil health; Inadequate supply of quality eggs; Emergence of new pest and pathogens; Improper rearing conditions including mounting and post-harvest care ; Non-availability of sufficient automatic reeling units.; Availability of low-cost synthetic textiles; Import of Cheap silk from China, Vietnam etc.
STRATEGIES NEEDED
- Expansion of mulberry area to new districts of traditional and non-traditional sericulture states.
- Enhancing the egg production capacity: 95% Chinese silk produced from highly productive bivoltine type in comparison to 80% Indian silk produced from low productive cross breed.
- Enhancement of Automatic Reeling Capacity: Reeling of Silk through traditional devices results in large variation in quality and uniformity making it unsuitable for power looms.
- Diversification of silk into other material uses and new fabrics
- R&D into medicinal and other applications of sericulture by-products
- Anti-dumping measures need to be maintained