Socio- economic Development through Sericulture in Karnataka

Abstract

Sericulture is one of the important potential agrobased rural industry in the world. This paper analyzed that socioeconomic development through sericulture sector in the world and in India. Majority of the people are engaged in various sericulture related activities in the country. This paper mainly focused on socioeconomic development, employment generation, and sericulture sector activities in the state. This sector expected low investment with higher returns in short gestation, due to this rural economy mainly concentrated on this sector. This paper mainly focused on sericulture as a eco-friendly, helps to soil conservation and foreign exchange earning opportunity for the developing countries. I. Concept of 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. Objectives of the Study 1. To study the sericulture in the world and in India 2. To study the sericulture in Karnataka 3. To study socioeconomic conditions of sericulture II. Methodology of the Study This study is mainly based on secondary sources of information. These secondary data are collected from various sources likePublished articles, journals, news papers, Karnataka economic survey, and the department of Sericulture, and research articles. Present Status of Sericulture in World The sericulture plays an important role in creating global levels for economic development in various countries. China is the first and largest silk produce country, and 1 million workers are employed in the world. India is the second highest silk producers of raw silk and consumer of pure silk in the world level. The other major silk producers developing countries likeBrazil, African, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran, Shrilanka, Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mynmar,, Turky, Mexico, Uzbekistan and the United States etc. And the most silk consumers of the world developing countries are; China, India, USA, Japan, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, UAE, Korea, Vietnam etc. At present, sericulture plays an increasing consumption of silk products witnessed in most of the developed countries leads to high demand in global level market. It play an important role in foreign exchange earning opportunity for the developing countries in the world. Present Status of Sericulture in India India has second highest silk producer of raw silk and consumer of pure of silk. In India, silk production has improved manifold since independence from the raw silk production level of 1437 MTs during 196974, 21000 MTs during 201011 and 23679 MTs during 2013. India is the only country in the world to produce all the four varieties of silk namely Mulberry, Eri, Tasar, And Muga are produced in the country. Mulberry is the largest practiced sericulture industry in India. Mulberry silk production contributes almost 80 percent for entire silk production in the country. Sericulture is an important labour intensive sector in the world and Indian economy combining both agriculture and industry. It provides livelihood to large section of the rural and semiurban population i.e., mulberry cultivator, cooperative rearer, silkworm seed producer, farmercumrearer, reeler, twistor, weaver, hand spinners of silk waste, traders etc. Sericulture is a cash crop in the agriculture sector, it gives returns within 30 days. Hence, these helps to rural people for the socioeconomic Socioeconomic Development through Sericulture in Karnataka www.iosrjournals.org 25 | Page development, women empowerment, increase children’s education, social activities developments through sericulture activities in India. Table1.3 Employment Generation of India Years Employment 200708 6.12 200809 6.31 200910 6.82 201011 7.25 201112 7.56 201213 7.09