SERICULTURE IN ANDHRAPRADESH Sericulture ... - Seri.ap.gov.in

SERICULTURE IN ANDHRAPRADESHSericulture is an agro-based labour intensive industry which providesgainful employment to the rural and unemployed youth and helps to uplift the socioeconomicstatus of small and marginal farmers . The economic advantages ofSericulture industry lies in its high employment potential with low investment. Onehectare of mulberry creates employment to (12) persons throughout the year. 60%of them are women thereby supporting a greater role for women in development. Itrequires low gestation period and continues to yield for 15-16 years with littleexpenditure on maintenance. It gives higher returns, unlike other agricultural crops.Andhra Pradesh occupies 1 st position in productivity and 2 ndposition in the country next to Karnataka in production of Silk. Andhra Pradeshproduces all the four popular varieties of Silk worm cocoons namely Mulberry, Tasar,Eri and Muga. Andhra Pradesh has got very strong and traditional weaving base withmore than a lakh number of hand looms mostly concentrated in weaving pockets likeDharmavaram, Pochampally,, Gadval, Patur, Peddapuram,Narayanpet, etc., In the lastdecade number of cotton weavers have taken to silk weaving in centers like Rayadurgand Proddatur because of better income in silk weaving.As a rural agro based industry, Sericulture has nowexpanded to almost all districts in the state.SERICULTURE AT A GLANCES.No ITEM Units 2005-061 Employment generationLakhpersons4.882Area under mulberrycultivationCumulativein acres97,6463 a CB Cocoon production In MTs 46,785b Bivoltine cocoon production In MTs 1239Total Cocoon Production In MTs 48024

4 Cocoon production / 100 Dfls In Kgs 54.45 Raw silk production In MTs 5,3366 Sericulture farmers In Nos 76,9717Tasar food plantation Availablefor rearingIn acres 250008 Tasar Dfls brushed Lakh nos. 8.829 Tasar Cocoon production Lakh nos. 113.5310 Tasar rearers (In No.s). 3,00011 Area under Castor& TopiocaIn lakhHectares3.7412 Eri Dfls brushed (In No.s). 1.75913 Eri cocoon production MTs 33.500OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SERICULTURE DURING 2006-07 : To stabilize the existing area under mulberry and bring an additional area of8700 acres under mulberry cultivation with High Yielding Varieties. To produce 51415 tonnes of reeling cocoons. To produce and supply quality Cross Breed Disease Free layings throughDepartmental Grainages. To increase productivity at the farmer level to 55 Kgs per 100 dfls. To generate employment to 4.35 lakh persons both directly and indirectly. To produce and supply quality Tasar layings to 3,000 rearers who are mostlyTribals. To produce 2400 M.Tonnes of bivoltine cocoons for the production of Globallycompetitive Internationally graded Silk required to face the challenges of W.T.O. To improve productivity levels in Tasar culture

Expansion of Ericulture to the potential districts of Telangana and Coastalareas where castor and tapioca are abundantly grown .Ericulture is also beingintroduced on pilot basis in perennially drought affected district of Anantapur. To implement Economical water management system through Drip Irrigation.To disseminate Scientific Sericultural Practices by promoting modernizationand quality up gradation of the industry. To develop of Region specific & season specific races through APSSRDI,Hindupur. To integrate of Non Farm Activities ie. Reeling and Twisting with weaving andto strengthen linkages between the farm and non farm activities.STRATEGIES OF THE DEPARTMENT :Though the present production of cocoons per unit area ismore remunerative when compared to the other commercial crops, this may nothelp for the sustenance of the industry in the long run. Therefore, it is imperative toincrease the productivity levels on par with sericulturally advanced countries. Thedepartment has identified certain gaps, which are coming in the way of producingqualitative and quantitative production of cocoons.ON-FARM SECTOR: Expansion of mulberry with High Yielding Varieties. Maintenance of Separate Chawkie Gardens( for young age silk wormrearing to reduce mortality). Effective Water Management like “Drip Irrigation”. Appropriate Disinfection Technology. Separate pucca rearing house. Shoot harvesting and Shelf rearing. Rotary Mountages. Human Resource Development. Research & Development. Special thrust for promotion of Bivoltine Hybrid cocoons & Production ofInternational grade silk.

NON-FARM SECTOR:Inspite of all out efforts being made to modernize the industry thepost cocoon activities especially reeling activity is not emerging as economicallyviable due to high investment with low profit margin. As a result, most of thecocoons produced in the State are making way to the neighboring states. Thestrategies adopted for non-farm sector development are Working capital assistance to the non-farm sector units. Entrepreneur Development Programs Assistance for establishing silk reeling, twisting, looms, processing units. Review of silk import policy Setting up of improved multiend reeling machines Providing of interest subsidy on loans & working capital for the reelershaving cottage and Multiend basins to reduce the interest burden to theentrepreneurs. Computerized linking of all the Cocoon Markets in the State to know theinformation on Market rates both for rearers & reelersThe Department has planned to revive 204 Silk Reeling basinswith the annual production capacity of 42 MTs from the existing level of 70 basinswith 14 M.tonnes. It is also planned to establish the required number of basins andspindles to consume the entire quantity of cocoons that would be produced in aphased manner.DEPARTMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE :The available technical infrastructure details is as follows:S.No. Name of the UnitNumberof Units01 On Farm Technical Service Centers 14002 Seed farms 3903 Seed area TSCs 904 Seed Cocoon Markets 405 Grainages 1306 Govt. Cocoon Markets 807 Reeling units 1508 Non-farm TSCs 11

09 Training Centres / Units 810 Tasar seed stations 9PROGRESS DURING 2005-06 : A quantity of 1239 MTs of Bivoltine cocoons was produced forthe first time in the state by dovetailing all associated facilitieslike rearing sheds , rearing equipment and drip irrigation systemetc., to the Bivoltine farmers. 1595 separate rearing sheds have been constructed. So far atotal of 10099 separate sheds were constructed under CatalyticDevelopment programme for the benefit of farmers and toincrease bivoltine sericulture. An extent of 1462 acres has been covered under the DripIrrigation programme . An extent of 7834 acres of new area has been covered undermulberry. Bivoltine Silk Worm eggs supplied to Bivoltine farmers onsubsidized cost @ Rs. 100/- per 100 Disease free layings 3,000 tribal families are engaged in rearing of Tasar silk wormson the food plants available in the forest areas of Adilabad,Karimnagar , Warangal and Khammam Districts and produced aquantity of 113.535 Lakh number of tasar cocoons. The Department in co-ordination with the Central Silk Boardunder Catalytical Developmental Programme is implementing anEri Project to create an additional income to Castor/Topiocagrowers through rearing of Eri silkworms in Nalgonda,Mahabubnagar and East Godavari districts. A quantity of 33.50 Metric tonnes of Eri cocoons was producedby 811 Castor and Tapioca farmers which is a record . Ericultureis providing additional income to farmers. Special programmes such as Mass Disinfection Programme,Training programme etc., are being implemented for the benefit ofsmall, marginal farmers, Reelers, Scheduled Castes, ScheduledTribes and Women to enable them to increase the productivity andtheir economic status.

To encourage the Private reelers and to strengthen Non FarmSector , schemes like Production incentive to Multiend reelingunits on Production of Quality Silk Yarn , Interest subsidy onloans and working capital for the reeling units sanctioned byCommercial Banks are being implemented . Production incentiveto 21946 Kgs of Multivoltine and 12974 Kgs of Bivoltine Silk hasbeen provided to the reelers. Providing assistance to the drought affected farmers for revivalof mulberry.NEW INITIATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT :• 16 Multiend reeling units were revived under private sector .In addition tothis 15 Govt. Silk Reeling units were also revived in the State for effectiveutilization of the services of the workers and to help the farmers in sellingtheir cocoons at competitive prices.• To encourage post cocoon activity and to bridge the gap between the onfarm and non farm sectors to maximum extent , it is proposed to establishone Chinese automatic reeling unit under private sector.• To provide marketing facility to the ERI farmers , it is proposed toestablish one ERI processing cum spinning unit under private sector.• Expansion of Tasar and Ericulture to other potential Districts in the State.FOCUSSED AREAS:SEED PRODUCTION:A systematic 3 tier system of seed organization programme has beenestablished i.e., at P3, P2 and P1 level multiplication for both local and foreignraces, to supply quality seed cocoons for production and supply of disease freesilkworm eggs to the farmers. The State has achieved self sufficiency in theproduction of seed cocoons for the production of disease free silkworm eggs inGovernment grainages. Adequate infrastructure with supporting staff is available forsmooth functioning of seed organization.EXTENSION SUPPORT:The Department is advocating new technologies in both Mulberry cultivationand silkworm rearing to the farmers through Technical Service Centres in order to

increase cocoon production in the State and to increase productivity per acre.Study tours are regularly organized and extension literature on latest techniques isdistributed regularly.. Mobile Farmers Training Units are also involving in transferof new technologies to all Sericulture villages. Average productivity per 100 DFLsin several areas of the State has reached 54.40 Kgs.Promotion of High Yielding Variety Mulberry plantation:The main focus will be to increase the productivity and thereby the incomeper unit area. In order to increase the productivity of leaf yield, major thrust hasbeen given to increase the area under high yielding varieties of mulberry saplingswith wider spacing.The farmers have realised the importance of quality consciousness ofmulberry leaf varieties and are voluntarily coming forward to take up V1 & S-seriesvariety of plantation through saplings with wider spacing and also paired rowsystem. The farmers are replacing the existing mulberry varieties with V1& S-seriesin a phased manner.Raising of Kissan Nurseries:Taking into consideration of the growing demand for V1 MulberryPlantations, the farmers are being encouraged to take up Kissan nurseries oncommercial lines to meet the demand of the farmers for saplings. It is alreadyproved as a viable commercial proposition and the farmers are raising nurseriestwice in a year during February and July. Plantation through Saplings have manyadvantages over plantation through cuttingsAdvantages of saplings:• High survival rate due to existing root system.• Higher area coverage due to better use of plant material.• Scope for removal of undesirable variety at nursery stage.• Quick and better establishment of garden.• Plants can be trained suitably.• Uniform development of the garden.• Saplings can be raised in time to take up timely plantation during monsoon.• Minimum of (3) crops can be taken during the 1 st year of establishment.

Promotion of Drip Irrigation:As a water conservative measure, much impetus is being given for Drip irrigationwhich is proved as most effective in economic use of water for irrigation and is wellsuited for mulberry plants. The financial assistance available to the farmersthrough the Centrally Sponsored CDP Scheme of CSB is effectively utilised for thepromotion of large scale adoption of this technology at the ground level.Adoption of more crop cycles per year:The farmers are dividing their mulberry gardens in to two plots and areharvesting 8-10 crop cycles per annum. By this the farmers are able to get incomealmost every month thereby improving their economic status.Promotion of Bivoltine Rearing Technology:Realizing the importance of quality and productivity for sustenance ofsericulture industry , the department has formulated a massive BivoltineProgramme in the State by identifying nucleus villages and propagating BivoltineTechnology. This could be achieved only by providing incentives to the Bivoltinefarmers for construction of Rearing Sheds, Rearing Equipments, Drip irrigationfacility, supply of disinfectants etc,. By creating the above associated facilities, thefarmers are able to improve their productivity and are producing quality BivoltineSilk of International Grade.BIVOLTINE HYBRID PROGRAMME IN ANDHRA PRADESH:The Department is implementing Bivoltine hybrid programme throughoutAndhra Pradesh with the financial assistance of Central Silk Board & Governmentof Andhra Pradesh. A record production of 1239 M.T of bivotine cocoons wasachieved during 2005-06Promotion of Chawkie Rearing Centres (CRCs):The farmers have conceived the concept of supply of chawkie worms as acommercial proposition in view of the great acceptance for rearing of wormssupplied through chawkie which reduces the period of rearing at farmers level withassured increase in productivity.

The farmers are coming forward to run chawkie rearing centres in privatesector voluntarily. The financial assistance available under CDP is being effectivelyutilised by such farmers who are willing to construct chawkie rearing buildings andpurchase the chawkie rearing equipments.MARKETING FACILITIES TO THE FARMERS:Marketing facility to the cocoons produced by the farmers is providedthrough (8) regulated Cocoon Markets and (16) Notified Markets . To ensure areasonable price to the farmers, cocoon testing procedure was introduced in all theCocoon Markets which is found to be more beneficial to the farmers. This willinduce quality consciousness among farmers and reelers. For the benefit offarmers and reelers, Information Centers have been established in the CocoonMarkets to depict various improved technologies mainly through audiovisual Aids.Cocoon Market rates are being broadcasted daily through All India Radio andpopular T.V channels. They are published in News papers also. For the benefit ofthe farmers information on market rates also kept on the Sericulture Web site.SILK REELING:Though Sericulture has been developing very rapidly in respect of cocoonproduction in the State, reeling activities are yet to be developed at the same pace.There is still a wide gap between the production of cocoon and consumption with inthe State.(11) Non-Farm Technical Service Centers have been set up for the exclusivepromotion of post cocoon activity as there is good potential for the development ofNon-Farm sector domestically.INCENTIVES TO THE REELING INDUSTRY:1. An incentive of Rs.100/- per kg. of silk is being given to the Reelersunder CDP programme to encourage Bivoltine Silk Production onMultiend Silk Reeling Units2. An incentive of Rs.50/- per kg for the production of Multivoltine Silkreeled on Multiend Silk Reeling Units which is suitable for warp is alsobeing given to reelers under SDF.

3. Department is providing Skill up-gradation training programme to theworkers of Improved Multi-end Silk Reeling units on stipendiary basisincluding 25% cost of raw material .4. Subsidy to the maximum of 50% on working capital loan will be paid tothe financial institutions by the Department on behalf of silk reelers tominimize the burden on small and marginal silk reelers to encourage andalso for sustenance of non-farm units.5. 50% Subsidy on machinery cost is proposed to be provided besides100% subsidy on CST and Transportation charges, where the traditionalcharka silk reeling basins are being replaced with Improved CottageBasin Silk Reeling basins .6. Assistance is being extended for establishment of Improved Multi-endSilk Reeling units (15:35:50) by DoS-AP, CSB and beneficiaryrespectively on the unit cost of 6, 10 and 20 basin Improved Multi-endSilk Reeling Units.7. Special package of scheme is also being implemented for payment ofRs.75/- per kg of Multi-voltine (Yellow) and Rs.125/- per kg of Bivoltine(White) silk as production incentive in non-traditional districts ofHyderabad and E.Godavari / W.Godavari / Krishna as “Incentive forproduction of quality raw silk on Improved Multi-end Silk reeling Units.”8. 50% subsidy is being given to the progressive multi-end silk reelers onthe cost of plant/machinery to establish reeling accessories likepressurized cocoon cooking system / water softeners / boilers forproduction of quality raw silk under the scheme “Assistance forpurchase of accessories for Improved Multi-end silk reeling machinery”.9. For consumption of defective reeling cocoons and to encourage small silkreelers, who can not afford for Improved multi-end silk reeling machinery,which is more expensive, necessary assistance to establish ImprovedCottage Basin / Motorized Charka / Dupion Charka reeling machinery isbeing provided under CDP.TASSAR SECTOR:An extent of 8400 hectares of Tasar food plants are available forconduct of Tasar silk worm rearing in the forest. 3000 Nos. of Tasar

earers who are mostly tribals are engaged in Tasar silk Worm rearing.During 2005-06 a quantity of 113.535 lakh numbers of Tasar cocoonswas produced by implementation of CDP schemes under Tasar sector.ERICULTURE PROJECT:The Department is implementing Eri Project to create additional income ofRs 3000/- to Rs 4000/- per acre to Castor / Topioca growers through rearing of EriSilkworms. The Project is being implemented on pilot basis in Nalgonda,Mahabubnagar and East Godavari districts in co-ordination with the Central SilkBoard . A quantity of 33.50 tones of Eri cocoons was produced during 2005-06. Itis planned to expand the programme to Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nizamabad,Prakasam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram & Visakhapatnam Districts.RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research & Development Institute hasbeen set up as an autonomous organisation in Andhra Pradesh at Kerikera villagenear Hindupur in Anantapur District to cater to the research needs of the State. Themain objective of this institute is to carry out research on all aspects of Sericulturewith a special emphasis on adaptive research and to develop region specific, andseason specific silkworm breeds. The Research work on maintenance of breedingstock, purification and isolation of inbreeding are under progress. Testing of severalBi-voltine hybrid combinations at different regions is under progress. A new Multi XBi-voltine hybrid namely “SWARNANDHRA” has been successfully released by APState Sericulture Research & Development Institute, Hindupur. Similarly two newBivoltine hybrids, namely “HEMAVATHI” and “KALPATHARUVU” have also beenreleased and these races have resulted in increased output of white cocoons,which have been found to be suitable to produce silk yarn of international grade. Inaddition (4) Races which are suitable to Andhra Pradesh are also under pipe linefor release.