Sericulture

Sericulture

Introduction Sericulture

Sericulture is an agro-based industry. It involves rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk, which is the yarn obtained out of cocoons spun by certain species of insects. The major activities of sericulture comprises of food-plant cultivation to feed the silkworms which spin silk cocoons and reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament for value added benefits such as processing and weaving.

It is also known as  silk farming. It is the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk.It is the art and technology of raising silk worms for production of raw silk yarn. This agro based industry is not limited to just worms, but includes all activities related to them, like mulberry cultivation and even post-cocoon technology. It requires both technical know-how and as well as specialization. Although there are several commercial species of silkworms, Bombyx mori is the most widely used and intensively studied.  It has become one of the most important cottage industries in a number of countries like China, Japan, India, Korea, Brazil, Russia, Italy and France. Today, China and India are the two main producers, together manufacturing more than 60% of the world production each year.

Course Duration

  • Undergraduate courses: 4 years
  • Postgraduate courses: 2 years
  • Ph. D.

 

CAREER IN FORESTRY

Eligibility

For undergraduate courses, 10+2 with science (PCM/PCB/Agriculture); for postgraduate courses, Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, sericulture or any agricultural field and for Ph.D. master degree in sericulture or any agricultural field.

 

Career Objects

It offers career opportunity in Govt. research centers, Silk boards, teaching in colleges and universities private textile firm etc. It has high employment potential. 60 lakh persons are engaged in various sericulture activities in the country. It is estimated that it can generate employment @ 11 man days per kg of raw silk production (in on-farm and off-farm activities) throughout the year. This potential is par-excellence and no other industry generates this kind of employment, specially in rural areas, hence, it is used as a tool for rural reconstruction. Provides vibrancy to village economies, ideal programme for weaker sections of the society, low gestation, high returns, women friendly occupation, eco-friendly activity, satisfies equity concerns.  Women constitute over 60 % of those employed in down-stream activities of sericulture in the country.  This is possible because these activities starting from mulberry garden management, leaf harvesting and silkworm rearing is more effectively taken up by the women folk. As a perennial crop with good foliage and root-spread, mulberry contributes to soil conservation and provides green cover. It is an agro-based industry so it also provided job for less literate or non technical educate.

Pay/Earnings

Professionals who undergo proper training can earn starting salaries are as high as Rs 15000 to 35,000 /- per month in public sector and even higher in private sector and NGOs. In research field salaries goes up to 1, 00,000 or more.

Institutions