Sericulture: Career as silk technologist

Introduction Image: 

Sericulture is the technique of silk production and plays an eminent role in the rural economy of India. Essentially, this involves acquiring the know-how for raising silk worms for the production of raw silk yarn. However, this agro-based industry is not limited to just worms, but includes all activities related to them such as mulberry cultivation and even post-cocoon technology.

 
Interestingly, China and Japan were the two main producers of silk yarn, together producing over 50 per cent of the total world production each year but now Japan has been relegated to the third position ever since India has doubled its production of silk.

With over 3 million people employed in the various sectors of sericulture, in India this is a cottage industry and provides many opportunities for employment and enterprise for womenfolk in rural areas. Meanwhile, with research institutions devising new technological processes, sericulture is now being recognised as a mainstream profession.
 
Mulberry silk is produced extensively in the states of Karnataka, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. About 85 per cent of the country’s production is contributed by Karnataka by rearing multivoltine hybrids of silkworm and this activity enables the sericulturists to harvest five to six crops a year.

Scope

Sericulture, in recent times, has begun to offer a wide variety of employment and entrepreneurship options. Most importantly, every state in India has a sericulture department to focus on rearing of silk worms, production of fibre and marketing. As such, sericulturists can opt for the channel they wish to work in and make a career out of it.
 
There are many laboratories that conduct experimentation on this natural fibre to find out the best methods of raising silk worms and creating high quality fibre and these serve as excellent avenues for those inclined towards technology and scientific experimentation.

Technically competent personnel are much in demand for transfer of technology as also to assist in research and development processes. There is scope for vocational instructors in sericulture as also for administrators who can work towards achieving the government’s target of achieving the top slot in the global sericulture scenario.
 
Sericulturists also find employment as farm managers, silk retailers, weavers, exporters etc. Consultants with a thorough and updated knowledge of the field are also in demand, especially to provide guidance for the setting up of sericulture farms.

The silk industry has created new options for sericulturists. Fabrics ranging from dazzling dupions to fine mulberry organzas, tuffetas, crepe, georgette, chiffon, tabby, satin and twills form the cumulative silk exports from India.
 
Silk garments for high-fashion party-wear having a lot of embroidery and sequin work are mainly exported to the United States. Silk sarees are also exported in large numbers to Indians and people of Indian origin settled abroad. Silk scarves and stoles witnessed a maximum rise in exports, increasing by 233 per cent in dollar terms. There is demand for Indian silk items from America, Japan, Spain,Germany, Italy and Europe. Demand for Kashmiri silk carpets has been on the rise continuously. All this has created additional avenues for sericulturists.

Eligibility

For a course leading to a degree in sericulture, the basic qualification required for admission is HSC (10+2) with subjects such as Biology and Chemistry. There are post-graduates courses too for which a basic degree in sericulture is essential. The course duration for the degree course is of four years while that for post-graduation is of two years. There are two types of degrees viz. BSc (Sericulture) and BSc Silk Technology (Sericulture).

Institutes

Some of the institutes offering courses and training in sericulture include:
•    Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore
•    College of Agriculture, Bangalore
•    Shivaji University, Kolhapur
•    Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu

Remuneration

Sericulturists starting with a government agency or a silk fibre production company can hope to earn a package of Rs 1.5-2.0 lakhs per annum. This grows in accordance with the experience gained. Entrepreneurs, especially those who set up business as exporters of silk products, can look forward to excellent gains.