Sericulture Industry in Assam: A Source of Employment Generation

Sericulture is a traditional Agro-based industry. It involves cultivation of host plants and rearing of silkworms for the production of cocoon to produce raw silk. Therefore, sericulture has vast potential for generating income and employment opportunities primarily to the rural masses of Indian states thereby contributing in poverty alleviation and earning foreign exchange. A lot of entrepreneurial opportunities are available in various field of sericulture. India is the second largest producer of silk and also the largest consumer of silk in the world having a strong tradition bound domestic market. It has the distinction of producing all the four varieties of silk viz. Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. It is necessary to upgrade the silk of the sericulturists to use the full potentialities of sericulture to produce quantitatively superior cocoons and to earn profitable income. This agro-based industry has also been playing an important role in the generation of employment and income in a slowly growing economy of the North-Eastern state of Assam. Although all the four varieties of silk are produced in Assam, Eri and Muga occupies the primary position in the sericulture scenario of the state. Rural employment generation has become the major focus of the inclusive development in all the developing economies in the post-globalization era. However, the growth of sericulture industry was not always stable over the years. Low productivity, price fluctuations, lack of proper markets, poor finance, lack of transportation and storage facilities, lack of technology and traditional type of industry are some of the key obstacles which holds back the industry to grow to its full potential. Therefore, the present paper tries to understand the scope of employment and income generation, pattern of silk yarn production and analyze the problems and prospects of sericulture industry in Assam.