“Technological advancements in sericulture could convert it from a simple employment generating activity to an attractive and profitable enterprise. However, in the changing world scenario, the sericulture industry is facing challenges of diminishing resources including land, water, manpower, demand of market, ecological threats etc., says Dr. P. Samuthiravelu, Scientist & Head, Research Extension Center, Central Silk Board, Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
"As a result, concepts such as organic farming, mechanization in on-farm and off-farm activities, use of bio-control agents etc. are being actively implemented,” he says.
Critical role
Mass production of bio-control agents by private entrepreneurship is gaining importance for the control of mulberry and silkworm pests.
“It is being given greater emphasis by both governmental and also non-governmental agencies due to its critical role in the sustainability of sericulture.
Though chemical pesticides have been in use for the control of pests as these have been effective, dependable, and economical, their indiscriminate use has resulted in several problems such as development of resistance in pests against pesticides, resurgence of minor pests, toxic residues in food, water, air and soil elimination of natural enemies and disruption of ecosystem and their continued uses may further harm the environment and reduce the crop yield,” he adds.
Mr. S. R. Kannan, basically an sericulture farmer from Arianur ( Kadathur), near Salem town hails from a sericulture background and with a keen interest to earn from sericulture.
Technical help
He established a bio control unit supported by the technical wing of REC, Hosur. He underwent training at the Central Sericultural Research &Training Institute, Mysore and learned all the techniques on the mass production of biocontrol agents.
“Getting bio inputs for the sericulture industry remained difficult for many sericulture farmers.
I thought I must concentrate in manufacturing and supplying the required bio inputs as not many people were into it. Since it is not a regularly explored area, the chances of me getting a better income proved promising,” says the farmer.
At present, the farmer earns a net profit of about Rs. 25,000 per month. His regular monthly earning is enough to meet out basic requirement of his family besides providing education to his children and other basic family requirements.
Waste by-product
He is planning to obtain some additional income from his biocontrol unit through the waste by-product from N. thymus production which is energy rich waste by-product recovered from his daily production for mulberry leaf quality improvement to sericulture farmers.
“Initially, I invested about Rs 1 lakh for purchasing the plastic trays, plastic boxes, iron cages, stands and feeding materials required for production of biocontrol agents,” he says.
The produced materials are sent by him through couriers as per the farmers demand throughout Tamil Nadu and a part of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka State wherever necessary in local areas he can supply the materials directly to the farmers.
For further details contact Dr. P. Samuthiravelu, Scientist ‘C', CSRTI-Research Extension Centre, Central Silk Board, Door No.5, Chamundi Nagar, Opp. SPIC office, Kelamangalam Main Road, Mathigiri (Post), Hosur-10, Tamil Nadu , e mail: sc_rechsr63@rediffmail.com, and phone 04344 262914.
