Economics of Sericulture - A Study of Raigarh District—Chhattisgarh –India

Abstract

Sericulture, the production of silk worms and thus ultimately of silk fibre has become a promising rural activity in India because of its minimum gestation period, minimal investment, and maximum employment potential and quick turnover for investment. Sericulture is an extremely labor intensive industry and occupies a pivotal position from the point of providing employment and additional income to weaker sections. Sericulture is divided in two sectors namely farm and industry. The farm sector involves growing silkworm’s food plants, rearing silkworm to produce cocoons and eggs. Reeling, twisting, dyeing, printing, finishing, knitting form the industry sector. Sericulture generates high employment and income per unit of land area. Sericulture provides an ample opportunity for increased employability of human resource and can effectively check migration of people to urban areas. Sericulture is the most remunerative when compared to other crop activities in terms of income generation. All the sections of sericulture industry, viz. mulberry cultivation, silkworm seed production, silkworm rearing, reeling and weaving of silk and collection of by products and its processing provide a large scale employment, thereby a source of livelihood for the rural and tribal people. Sericulture identify as a viable rural industry mainly because it provides remunerative employment to families and labour throughout the year and also ensures periodical income even with small land holdings. Sericulture industry is a labour intensive and has very good potential to provide employment to the rural mass at their local level. It is an eco friendly activity which provides an opportunity to rural mass to uplift their socio economic status. India has unique distinction of being the only country on the world producing all the four commercially known verities of silk, viz, mulberry, tasar, eri and munga. Sericulture in India is a fairly organized activity in the cottage industry segment, largely rural based and labour intensive. Cultivation is spread Over 22 states. Cover 172000 hectare across 54000 villages operating 258000 handlooms and 29340 power looms. Total raw silk production goes up to 30265 MT in 2016-17 with employment generation of 8.51 million persons in India.