Sericulture for sustainable development, employment generation and socio-economic empowerment of tribal

The present strategy of Sustainable rural development in India mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programmes of wage and self-employment. In India, Limited availability of land, limited cash returns and agriculture being confined to one or two seasons in the year have made villages to look for supporting rural industries such as sericulture. In India sericulture has been promoted as an agro-based, labour intensive, rural oriented cottage industry, providing gainful employment mainly to the weaker and marginalised section of the society especially tribal. Sericulture is a multidisciplinary science, which deals with natural science such as plant, insect, soil, environment, etc. Large production base, availability of skills, land and labour, established infrastructure, availability of silkworm breeds/ hybrids, Low investment, short gestation period and higher returns are some strengths of sericulture sector. Seri culture is an integral part of tribal life having immense traditional and ethnic value in their socio-economic structure practiced by about 1.5 lakh tribal populace in the 15 states. There are more than 58 countries practicing sericulture in the world. India is the only Country in the world to produce all the four known varieties of silk including Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. In 2013-2014 the employment in sericulture sector were 7.85 million persons and it goes up to 8.51 in 2016-17.The total raw silk production was 26480 MT in 2013-14 which is recorded as 30265 MT in 2016-17. In Chhattisgarh Tropical Tasar and mulberry are reared on commercial scale. In 2016-17 the Total raw silk production in Chhattisgarh claimed as 361 MT. The sericulture industry has witnessed a quantum jump in raw silk productivity. The average yield of 25 kgs. Of cocoons/100 dfls in the recent past has increased and currently the average yields are in the range of 60-65 kgs./100 dfls. Generation of rural employment and reduction of migration to urban areas are some Opportunities of sericulture sector in study area. This article demonstrates that certain developmental initiatives have been playing an important role in the socio-economic progress of tribal masses in Raigarh district and explains the increased returns from sericulture as a result of development programmes. The study concludes with some suggestions to improve the long term feasibility of sericulture.