Social and personal characteristics of tribal farm women involved in sericulture

The study entitled “Social and Personal Characteristics of Tribal Farm Women Involved in Sericulture” was undertaken to examine the demographic and socio-economic profile of women engaged in sericulture. Dhemaji district of Assam was purposively selected for the study owing to its rich tradition of eri and muga silk rearing among tribal households. A total of 120 respondents were chosen using a multistage random sampling procedure across ten villages. Data were collected through personal interviews with the help of a structured schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents (70.00%) belonged to the middle-aged group of 36–60 years, with most having educational attainment up to high school (33.34%). Nuclear families were predominant (78.34%) with medium family size (3–8 members, 86.66%), and most families combined sericulture with agriculture or allied activities (54.16%). A large proportion were marginal farmers (65.84%), with an average operational holding of 5.67 bighas under sericulture and a mean experience of 22.19 years. Annual income from sericulture averaged ₹2.56 lakhs, with Eri silk emerging as the dominant product marketed (96.66%), followed by growing interest in value-added products (70.00%). While extension contacts were moderate (77.50%), only 40.84% of respondents had received formal training, reflecting reliance on traditional knowledge. Marketing was mainly through local markets and fairs (71.60%), supplemented by direct sales to boutiques and designers (34.10%). The study concludes that sericulture is a vital livelihood activity for tribal women, contributing significantly to household income and cultural continuity. However, challenges persist in terms of small landholdings, low training exposure, and limited access to structured markets. Strengthening institutional support, capacity-building, and market linkages could enhance the sustainability and profitability of women-led sericulture in Assam.