Scope Of Product Diversification And Value Creation In Indian Sericulture Industry

The rural agro-based mulberry sericulture industry occupies cultivation of food plants, rearing silkworms, conducting silk reeling, twisting, dyeing, weaving etc., and provides continuous employment to 6817 thousand people in India. The current annual production of 16360 MTs of mulberry raw silk and proportionate consumption of food plants in 170 thousand hectares spread over 51 thousand villages, generation of 125 thousand tons silk cocoons and 24 crore silkworm seed indicate the massive quantum of by product generation in sericulture sector, require perceptive management for adding additional employment and value. The suitability of sericultural end products for human diet, animal feed, soap, glycerine, pharmaceuticals, bio-gas, organic manure, chlorophyll, carotene, phytol, n-triacontanol, pectin, fibre, paper and art crafts needs exploitation. The use of mulberry shoot extract as adhesive, branches as baskets, toys and sport goods, bark as artificial leather, the trunk for making furniture, wood ash as disinfectant, latex as skin ointment, fruits as fabric dye, root as therapeutic indicates the prospect for value addition. Further, the chitin, shinki-fibroin, serra-peptidase and glucose-amine available in silkworm pupae and moths can be functional in neurological, post-surgical, ophthalmic, hepatitic, pancreatic, anti-histamic and anti-carcinogenic drugs. The potential of sericin and fibroin proteins as tissue regenerating bio-material, wound healing bio-adhesive, ultra violet screening cosmetic and bio-active fabric deodorant show the application possibilities of silk. To achieve the insight and awareness among stake holders of sericulture on value addition need applied research, publicity and marketing avenues by the associated organizations for the successful by product diversification for optimal employment and value in Indian sericulture industry.