தமிழ்நாடு அரசு - பட்டு வளர்ச்சித்துறை
Department of Sericulture - Tamil Nadu
Department of Sericulture | தமிழ்நாடு அரசு -
பட்டு வளர்ச்சித்துறை.
About Sericulture
Sericulture is the art of entire process of silk production in a scientific manner. It is an agro-based cottage industry, providing employment and income at regular intervals to the rural people, especially women. It ensures monthly income to the farmers, as one crop of silkworm can be reared within 25–27 days and the farmers can realise income by selling their produce, the cocoons. Sericulture can generate employment of about 11 mandays (in on-farm and off-farm activities) for the production of one kilogram of raw silk. It is also estimated that, one acre of mulberry cultivation can create direct employment to 5 persons throughout the year. The estimated quantity of employment generation denotes the stage of mulberry cultivation to the manufacturing of silk fabrics. Sericulture comprises cultivation of food plants such as mulberry, castor, etc., rearing of silkworms and silk reeling along with other processes. Silk is called as ‘Queen of Textiles’. There are four types of commercially used silk: Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. India is the only country which produces all four types of silk in the world. Mulberry silkworms are fed with mulberry leaves. Eri silkworms are fed with Castor/ Tapioca leaves. Tasar and Muga are wild type silkworms and are available in North-eastern hilly forest regions of India. Muga silk is precious one and produced only in Assam and nearby States in India.
About the Department
The Government of Tamil Nadu upgraded the Sericulture wing, which was functioning as subsidiary under the Department of Industries and Commerce, to function as a separate Department of Sericulture, during 1979 with its headquarters at Salem. The objectives of the department are to attain self sufficiency in silk production and to become a major bivoltine Sericulture State, helping the stakeholders to improve their economic standards by adopting latest Sericulture technologies and to create avenues for employment in rural / semi urban areas. The Directorate of Sericulture formulates and implements various schemes for development of Sericulture sector in the State. The Department of Sericulture is functioning under the control of Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department, Chennai under the able guidance of Hon’ble Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.