Authors: Assistant Professor Dr. M. Stephen
Abstract: Sericulture is an agro-based rural enterprise that integrates mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, cocoon production, silk reeling and value-added silk processing. Its importance extends beyond silk production because the sector provides employment, income diversification and livelihood opportunities for small and marginal farmers. India is the world's second-largest producer of raw silk and produced 38,913 MT in 2023–24, of which mulberry silk contributed 29,892 MT, while Tasar, Eri and Muga contributed 1,586, 7,183 and 252 MT, respectively. Estimated cumulative employment associated with the Indian silk sector reached 9.5 million persons in 2023–24. This review quantitatively examines sericulture as a rural enterprise by comparing production, employment, labour utilization, production costs, gross and net returns, benefit–cost ratios and technological interventions. Published farm-level studies demonstrate substantial economic potential. In Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, the reported total cost of sericulture was ₹279,585.80 ha⁻¹, gross income was ₹332,168.80 ha⁻¹ and net income was ₹52,583 ha⁻¹, with a benefit–cost ratio of 1.37. Labour requirements were also substantial, particularly for women during mulberry maintenance and silkworm rearing. Recent evidence further demonstrates that structured training can significantly improve adoption of sustainable sericulture practices. Among 222 farmers in West Bengal, trained farmers recorded a knowledge score of 94.12 ± 6.35 compared with 74.33 ± 8.21 among untrained farmers, while adoption scores were 71.31 ± 9.42 and 53.00 ± 10.18, respectively. The evidence indicates that sericulture can function as a sustainable rural enterprise when productivity-enhancing technologies, skill development, market access, labour availability and environmental management are integrated into production systems.
