An Evaluation of Environmentally Friendly Research Associated With Sericulture Plan |

ABSTRACT:

The rural agro-based mulberry sericulture industryoccupies cultivation of food plants, rearing silkworms, conducting silkreeling, twisting, dyeing, weaving etc., and provides continuous employment to6817 thousand people in India.The current annual production of 16360 MTs of mulberry raw silk andproportionate consumption of food plants in 170 thousand hectares spread over51 thousand villages, generation of 125 thousand tons silk cocoons and 24 croresilkworm seed indicate the massive quantum of by product generation insericulture sector, require perceptive management for adding additionalemployment and value. The suitability of sericultural end products for humandiet, animal feed, soap, glycerine, pharmaceuticals, bio-gas, organic manure,chlorophyll, carotene, phytol, n-triacontanol, pectin, fibre, paper and artcrafts needs exploitation. The use of mulberry shoot extract as adhesive,branches as baskets, toys and sport goods, bark as artificial leather, thetrunk for making furniture, wood ash as disinfectant, latex as skin ointment,fruits as fabric dye, root as therapeutic indicates the prospect for valueaddition. Further, the chitin, shinki-fibroin, serra-peptidase and glucose-amineavailable in silkworm pupae and moths can be functional in neurological,post-surgical, ophthalmic, hepatitic, pancreatic, anti-histamic andanti-carcinogenic drugs. The potential of sericin and fibroin proteins astissue regenerating bio-material, wound healing bio-adhesive, ultra violetscreening cosmetic and bio-active fabric deodorant show the applicationpossibilities of silk. To achieve the insight and awareness among stake holdersof sericulture on value addition need applied research, publicity and marketingavenues by the associated organizations for the successful by productdiversification for optimal employment and value in Indian sericultureindustry. Sericulture is one of the oldest professions the humanedeveloped and practiced. Weaving as a craft also developed independently inancient China, India, and Thailandas well as in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and in South America. The process of working out new techniques continued formillennia and continues even today. With the change from subsistence farming tothe present commercial system and incorporation of mechanical technology havebrought in drastic changes in both sericulture and weaving industry.Consequently, people realize the present day techniques adopted for commercialsystem may be unsustainable in the long run. Currently, scientists are relearning the traditional or indigenous know how and exploring possibilities ofusing the old practices wherever possible. Further in case of tribal weaving inNortheast India, each region has uniqueaptitude for the craft of weaving and each tribe has its own traditional styleand design. Therefore, introduction of indigenous know how (traditional craft,style, design, etc.) in the field of sericulture and weaving blended withmodern techniques can produce low cost quality product with quantity productionto sustain present day competition market.