1. Introduction to Sericulture
Sericulture is the cultivation of silkworms for the production of raw silk. India is the second-largest producer of silk in the world, producing all four varieties of natural silk: Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga.
- Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir are major silk-producing states.
- Sericulture provides employment to over 8.5 million people in rural India.
- Muga silk (Assam) has Geographical Indication (GI) status.
2. Types of Silk & Silkworms
- Mulberry Silk: Produced by Bombyx mori; fed on mulberry leaves; accounts for 90% of India's silk production.
- Tasar Silk: Produced by Antheraea mylitta; feeds on Arjun and Asan trees; produced in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh.
- Eri Silk: Produced by Samia ricini; feeds on castor leaves; known as "peace silk" as cocoons are not boiled.
- Muga Silk: Produced by Antheraea assamensis; golden-yellow silk; exclusive to Assam.
3. Mulberry Cultivation
- Mulberry (Morus alba) is the primary food plant for Bombyx mori.
- Plant in well-drained loamy soil with pH 6.2–6.8.
- Varieties: V1, S-36, S-54, G-2 (high-yielding, disease-resistant).
- Harvest leaves every 45–60 days; maintain plantation for 15–20 years.
- Apply balanced fertilizers (NPK) and organic manure for high leaf yield.
4. Silkworm Rearing
- Rearing cycle: 25–30 days from egg hatching to cocoon formation.
- Maintain rearing room temperature at 24–28°C and humidity at 70–85%.
- Feed fresh, clean mulberry leaves 3–4 times daily.
- Disinfect rearing trays and equipment with 2% formalin before each batch.
- Provide mountages (bamboo structures) for worms to spin cocoons.
5. Cocoon Harvesting & Processing
- Harvest cocoons 5–7 days after spinning is complete.
- Grade cocoons by size, shape, and weight; reject flimsy or double cocoons.
- Stifle (kill pupae) by hot air or steam to prevent moth emergence.
- Reel silk from cocoons in hot water (90–95°C) to unwind continuous filament.
- One cocoon yields 300–900 metres of silk filament.
6. Economics & Government Support
- 1 kg of raw silk requires approximately 5,500–6,000 cocoons.
- Central Silk Board (CSB) provides technical support, training, and subsidies.
- Silk Samagra scheme supports sericulture development across the value chain.
- Sell cocoons at government-regulated cocoon markets for fair pricing.