Eri Silk Rearing As a Land Base Livelihood Strategy: Experience of a Rural Household

Abstract

While discussing about different measures of employment creation, the different Eri-culture activities can be brought into consideration as some of these measures. The Ericulture activities have embedded with all the essential features of an effective employment generating measure. As per Government statistics, in the state of Assam a substantial number of people are engaged in different Eri-cultural activities. Most of these have been operating at the primary level of the whole Eri-culture process as the cocoon producers or rearers. But the findings of several earlier research works on Assam’s Eri Culture sector have shown that the earning from this particular activity is very low. While these rearers have been providing the principal ingredient towards the whole Eri Silk industry of the state and helping in strengthening nation’s overall Eri Silk export, a reality check regarding their financial health is quite essential. In general people usually prefer for those activities for earning their livelihood which are the most remunerative/income generating ones. So that they can attain the desired and positive changes in their economic and financial wellbeing. Considering this, this particular study is designed to examine the sustainability and effectiveness of Eri Silk rearing activity as a land base livelihood strategy for a rural household