In the development of sericulture industry, the role of
State Governments has customarily been the expansion of sericulture activity
and provision of farmer level extension as well as other support services,
including credit facilitation.
India being blessed with prevalence of favourable climatic
conditions, mulberry is cultivated in almost all states. But, traditionally
sericulture is practiced in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir, which accounts for major share in production
of mulberry raw silk in the country. Muga is twined with the culture of
Assam and has the monopoly. In the recent years, muga rearing is extended
to other states like Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand,
Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal. Now, as a result of growing realization,
sericulture is gaining ground in non-traditional areas too.
For the development of sericulture, State Governments have
been implementing various developmental schemes like supply of chawki
silk worms to the farmers at subsidized rate; development of mulberry
gardens and distribution of high yielding mulberry saplings to the farmers;
supply of quality disinfectant material; capacity building of the farmers;
assistance for the construction of rearing sheds; supply of tool and equipments;
incentives for setting up of reeling units and marketing support,etc.
Accordingly, separate 'Sericulture Departments' have been
set up by the State Governments, some of which include the following.
The Handlooms , Handicrafts , Textiles & Khadi Department
was formed in 1985. This Department is evolving policies and schemes
aimed at developing the harmonious growth of Handlooms, Power looms
and Textile Sector. It is also concerned with the development of Sericulture
, Khadi , Village Industries , Handicrafts and Palm Products Industry
in the State. Various schemes are evolved for the welfare of weavers
/ artisans involved in the above industries.
Sericulture and Weaving in Meghalaya are the two most
important cottage based, eco-friendly industries in the rural areas.
These twin industries portray the cultural ethos and rich heritage of
the people of the State. The thrust area under sericulture sector is
to boost up cocoon and silk production by development of systematic
and economic plantation at sericultural farmers level so as to enhance
the productivity per unit area through implementation of need-based
schemes such as Integrated Eri, Mulberry and Muga Development Program
Training facilities are provided to the farmers, reelers and spinners
on improved methods. In-service training of technical personnel and
training for the educated unemployed youth for self employment are also
provided.
Andhra Pradesh produces all the four popular varieties
of Silk worm cocoons namely Mulberry, Tasar, Eri and Muga. A separate
sericulture department has been set up with the following objectives:
- Production of International Graded Bivoltine
Silk and to meet the gap between supply and demand of silk
- Production of seed through an organised 3 tier system
of seed multiplication.
- Transfer of technology to the farmers through Technical
Service Centres.
- Propagation of High Yielding Varieties .
- Special attention on the improvement of the productivity
and quality.
- Economical water management system.
- Promoting private Chawkie Rearing units for supply
of Chawkie worms
- Promoting construction of a separate rearing sheds
- Providing marketing facilities to
farmers through cocoon markets and broadcasting
of cocoon rates of different cocoon markets through different media.
- Development of region specific & season specific
races.
- Development of non-farm sector and Integration of non
farm activities i.e. Reeling and Twisting with weaving.
- To achieve a quantum jump in production of Tasar and
Eri cocoons.
