Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 371-374 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci.

Short Communication

Breaking of poverty through sericulture among the tribeA Socio-Economic study of Dharamjaigarh block
of Raigarh Dist, CG, India
Dewangan S.K.1, Sahu K.R.2 and Soni S.K.3
1

Joint Collector, Jagdalpur, District Bastar (C.G.) – 494 001, INDIA
Department of Zoology, E. Raghvendra Rao, Govt. P.G. Science College, Bilaspur – INDIA
3
Department of Rural Technology and Social Development, G.G.U.Bilaspur,C.G., INDIA

2

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 2th November 2011, revised 20th January 2012, accepted 28th January 2012)

Abstract
The present strategy of rural development in India mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision
of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programmes of wage and self-employment. Poverty is biggest
challenge in India. Poverty is a social phenomenon in which a section of society is unable to fulfill even its basic necessities.
Solution of rural poverty and unemployment can come from land and water based jobs, which even today employ six times. The
farmers are encouraged to take up non-agriculture practices. In this context sericulture is a better option because it is labor
intensive industry. It provides direct or indirect employment to about 7 million people in India. Sericulture requires low investment
and offers high profit. It also provides regular income to farmers throughout the year unlike most other agricultural crops.
Sericulture plays a vital role in the flow of income from the urban rich sections of the society to the rural poor. There are more than
58 countries practicing sericulture in the world. India is the only Country in the world to produce all the four known varieties of
silk including Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. In Chhattisgarh Tropical Tasar and mulberry are reared on commercial scale.
Tasar is realy named as Kosa. Sericulture is being practiced by the tribal of traditional Districts of Baster, Raigarh, Bilaspur and
Surguja. The study area has about 364 acres under mulberry cultivation. Total area covered under tasar centers is about 3153.25
acres. Tasar rearing in forest are covered 4729.88 acres. The total beneficiaries are 5739 out of them 3347 are tribal in the
district. In the block only 18 (18%) beneficiaries out of 100 adopted the sericulture as main occupation and rest 82 (82%) as
secondary occupation. Out of 100 respondents in block 32% received employment for duration of 100-150 days and 64% for a
period of 151-200 days and 3% of 201-300 days and the 1% for more than 300 days. The total monthly income obtained from all
sources to the families involved in sericulture occupation is average 3840/-. The total monthly expenditure is about 2380/-. The
respondent tribe of study area collects forest minor products and thus they earn income about 5950/- once in year which is a
satisfactory amount for poor families. Before having sericulture occupation, the economic condition of 72% of the respondent was
normal, 8% was bed and 20% was very miserable. The average annual income from the old occupation was Rs. 19350/. The
change in annual income is reported app. Double which is good in amount.
Keywords: Poverty, sericulture, employment, income, tribal.

Introduction
The word “Sericulture” has been derived from the word “Su”
(Si) which means silk. Sericulture, the art and science of
growing silkworm, food plants, rearing silkworms and
production of silk is basically an agro-industry. It is divided
in two sectors namely farm and industry. The farm sector
involves growing silkworm’s food plants, rearing silkworm
to produce cocoons and producing eggs. Reeling, twisting,
dyeing, printing, finishing, Knitting and felting form the
industry sector1. Sericulture has provide downstream
employment and income generation in rural and semi-urban
areas high participation for low-income and socially under
privileged groups, a larger role for women in development
and huge potential for contribution to export earnings2.
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There are more than 58 countries practicing sericulture in the
world. India is the only Country in the world to produce all
the four known varieties of silk including Mulberry, Eri,
Tasar and Muga. In India Cultivation is spread Over 22
states. Covering 172000 hectares across 54000 villages
operating 258000 handlooms and 29340 power looms3.
In India, sericulture is not only a tradition but also a living
culture. It particularly suits rural-based farmers,
entrepreneurs and artisans, as it requires low investment but,
with potential for relatively higher returns. It provides income
and employment to the rural poor especially farmers with
small land-holdings and the marginalized and weaker
sections of the society.
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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 371-374 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Poverty is biggest challenge in India. Poverty is a social
phenomenon in which a section of society is unable to fulfill
even its basic necessities. In India [44%] and Chhattisgarh
[42.5%] of the total population lives in absolute poverty.
India still has the world's largest number of poor people in a
single country4.
Solution of rural poverty and unemployment can come from
land and water based jobs, which even today employ six
times. Indian economy reportedly suffers from high incidence
of rural poverty unemployment and underemployment. The
farmers are encouraged to take up non-agriculture practices
which are integrated with live stock culture animal
husbandry, dairy, fisheries, poultry, horticulture and
sericulture to generate more income for each house hold.
In this context sericulture is a better option because it is labor
intensive industry and provides direct or indirect employment
to about 7 million people in India. It requires low investment
and offers high profit. It also provides regular income to
farmers throughout the year unlike most other agricultural
crops. It plays a vital role in the flow of income from the
urban rich sections of the society to the rural poor 5.
Presently in Chhattisgarh three types of silk viz., ‘Mulberry’,
‘Tasar’ and ‘Eri’ silk are producing. Tasar culture is practiced
on the forest plants in wild condition6.
In Chhattisgarh Tropical Tasar and mulberry are reared on
commercial scale. Tasar is realy named as Kosa. Sericulture
is being practiced by the tribal of traditional Districts of
Baster, Raigarh, Bilaspur and Surguja.
Sericulture activities covered 43760 acres. The total number
of Tasar center is 285(12551.93Acres), Tasar plantation
under CGSP is 155 sites (10000 Acres),Tasar rearing in
forest is 18827.9 Acres ), Natural Raily Cocoons Area is 500
sq.kms and mulberry gardens are 117 (2380.5Acres). The
total beneficiaries are 51310 in numbers out of them 32,429
are Scheduled Tribe7.
Aims and Objectives: The Studies Will be concentrated at
the Dharamjaigarh block of Raigarh district. This will
include Identification of the areas where the tribal
populations have been directed to adopt sericulture practices
for their livelihood. Since how long this population is
practicing sericulture. What percentage of male, female and
children are involved in this process?
By preparing a questionnaire, data on different elements of
sericulture practices and aspects of economy in terms of their
economic growth will be collected as a primary data.
Secondary data will be collected from the various reports,
magazines and publications, from central and state agencies
working on sericulture practices. Finally an evaluation on the
breaking of poverty through sericulture among the tribe at

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study area will be assessed by using standard method of
statistics and economics.

Material and Methods
The present investigation was carried out in Dharamjaigarh
Block of Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh state, was purposely
selected for the study, and based on potentiality and
production of tasar/mulberry cocoons, where both types of
sericulture – mulberry and tasar are being practiced. The
study area has about 364 acres under mulberry cultivation
though effective area is only 80-120 acres. Mulberry gardens
are 18 in number. Mulberry Reeling Unit in 1 number.Tasar
culture is a traditional and exclusive craft of the tribal of
study area and is being practice from 13 years. Total area
covered under tasar centers is about 3153.25 acres though
effective area is about 2350 acre. Tasar centers are 22 in
number. Tasar plantation under CGSP is situated in 57 sites
and covers 3795 acres. Tasar rearings in forest are covered
4729.88 acres. The total beneficiaries are 5739 out of them
3347 are tribal in the district8.
Initially the list of sericultural villages and the names of
beneficiaries were obtained from local sericultural
department of Dharamjaigarh, The primary data was
collected from the sampled respondents following the
personal interview method using structured interview
schedule standardized by Nagaraja (1989).
In the above mention block four villages were selected at
random and in each village 25 beneficiaries were selected at
random for collection of data. Thus 100 beneficiaries were
selected from block. The farmers were post classified into
main and additional based on the engagement of
employment.
The information sought from the respondents involved in
sericulture activities consisted of three types. The first type of
information pertained to general information about the
respondents.
The second type of information sought was related to
occupational status, Employment days in a year, total
monthly income of the family from all sources, total
expenditure of the families from all sources, occupation
before the sericulture, duration of sericulture work, main
occupation related to sericulture, average annual income from
the old occupation, crops take in a year, cocoon produced in
each crop, Profit from each crop, yearly production of
cocoons, average annual income.
The third type of information pertained to the Losses in
Sericulture, Compensation by Government, Loan according
to requirement, Attachment with Sericulture, Sericulture is
favorable or not, Traditional Business is affected or not, Total
labor period, Change in economic status, Change in Annual

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 371-374 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Income through Sericulture, Displacement by Sericulture,
Impact of Sericulture in Life Style and economics of silk
production.
Primary and secondary data was analyzed using various
statistical tools viz., mean, mode and median. The data
collected include the profile of the farmers namely, age,
education, social participation, economic motivation, income
from sericulture, organizational participation.

Results and Discussion

Table - 2
No. of Respondents

Days
100-150

32

151-200

64

201-300

3

301-365

1

70
64
60

Employment: In the block only 18 (18%) beneficiaries out
of 100 adopted the sericulture as main occupation and rest 82
(82%) as secondary occupation. Out of 100 families the
number of working member in 18 families is only 01 and the
same way in 31 families is 02, In 38 families is 03, in 10
families 04and in 03 families 05 or more then 05 members
are working.

50
40
32
30
20
10
0

3
1

100-150
151-200

The total monthly income obtained from all sources to the
families involved in sericulture occupation is average 3840/-.
The respondent tribe of study area collects forest minor
products and thus they earn income about 5950/- once in year
which is a satisfactory amount for poor families.

301-365

Figure -2
Average Monthly Income
Table-3

Table - 1
X
1
2
3
4
5
N=100

Fx
18
62
114
40
15

S. N.

fx=249

F
18
31
38
10
3

MONTHLY
INCOME

NO. OF
RESPONDENT

1

000-1000

0

2

1001-2000

12

3

2001-3000

24

4

3001-4000

36

5

4001-5000

9

6

5001-6000

7

7

6001-7000

7

8

7001-8000

5

Employment
40

100

38

AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME

35
31

NO.OF RESPONDENT

40

25
20

18

15
10

10

5

3

0
1

2

3

4

No of working member

5

36

35
30
25

24

NO.OF
RESPONDENT

20
15
12

10
5
0

9

7

7

5

0

00
010
00
20
01
-3
00
0
40
01
-5
00
0
60
01
-7
00
0

No of families

30

S1

201-300

MONTHLY INCOME

Figure – 1
Figure -3

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 371-374 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
The total monthly expenditure from all sources to the families
is about 2380/-. Only respondents 14 are indebtness. Before
starting sericulture occupation in the study area 58% of the
total respondent were involved in agriculture and 35% in
agricultural labor. Only 4% are in rearing of worm and 3%
are both agriculture and sericulture. Now 148 men and 131
women are involved in the occupation under this silkworm
rearing, agriculture and silkworm rearing, plantation and
silkworm rearing and labor are included.
Before having sericulture occupation, the economic condition
of 72% of the respondent was normal, 8% was bed and 20%
was very miserable. This occupation is not new to the tribes
in the study area because they are practicing sericulture since
average of 13 yr. The average annual income from the old
occupation was Rs. 19350/-.
From 100 respondent 15 are take one crop in year while 12
are two, 73 are three. All respondent received dfls from
sericulture center and they are satisfied with dept. Primary
host plant for silkworm rearing is in the priority of T.arjuna,
T.tomentosa , M.alba and S.robusta with Z.zuzuba and that is
about 3190 for each respondent .
All the respondent are accepted that the work of sericulture is
comparatively better than other work. It is estimated that and
averages of 5900 numbers of Cocoons are produced in each
crop and an average of 4720 /- Rs. are gain by respondent
while yearly production is an average of 18300 numbers and
Average annual income about 18220/- Rs. Respondents. 99
respondent getting losses some time in this occupation and
the reason are high temperature and humidity followed by
diseases and pollution. Govt. did not give compensation for
any loss in crop it is responded by all.

migration. According to the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guaranty Programme)
population must receive 100 days employment in a year
where as sericulture provides 151-200 days employment to
respondent i.e., 64%.
Majority of the respondent were practicing agriculture before
adopting the sericulture but later on more than 80%
respondent are doing rearing practices. Economic states from
old occupation are normal for 72% respondents. The average
annual income from the old occupation were estimated as Rs.
19350/-. Due to this practices respondent were earned around
double income than earlier income.
Tasar culture is helpful for saving 3190 host plant by each
respondent i.e., tribal were very much eco-friendly.
It is noteworthy that adopting the Sericulture by tribal they
conserve the environment by non-cutting and felling of trees
because sericulture is now their way of life. Interstate
migration is checked because sericulture provides additional
income at their door level. Regular savings habit has been
developed by sericulture practices among the tribes because
they earn much more than their standard of living. It is
remarkable that sericulture is suited the life style of tribe
because practice of sericulture is simple and can be done
without any cost and skill.
The total monthly income obtained from all sources to the
families involved in sericulture occupation is average 3840/-.
The total monthly expenditure is about 2380/-.

Reference
1.

Sericulture activities provide a perfect choice for the
women Srivastav, P. K. et. al. Sericulture and SeriBiodiversity (2005)

2.

Baskar H., Indian Sericulture: Exciting Path AheadInternational Sericultural Commission, India, (2005)

3.

Dewangan S.K., Sericulture - A Tool of Eco-System
Checking Through Tribal, Journal of Environmental
Research and Development, vol.6 no.1, (2010)

4.

Directorate of Economics and Statistics District Wise
Socio Economic Development Index 2001 of
Chhattisgarh State (2001)

5.

Saratchandra B. Strides in Indian Sericultural Science
and Technology- ISCC- (2005)

6.

Gupta Rakesh et al Tasar culture showed them the way,
Indian silk, Feb (2008)

Conclusion

7.

District Statistics Book, Raigarh, (2005)

In a nutshell sericulture is the source of additional income
generation. Sericulture provides more than 50% employment
to the respondent in a year thus stops the inter-state

8.

Directorate of Gramodyog -Sericulture in Chhattisgarh(2004)

All the respondent want attach continue with sericulture
because it is suited to their lifestyle. The work is simple and
can be done without any cost. Sericulture can serve better for
the additional income generation and lay concrete on the way
for the local employment generation. All respondents have
view that sericulture has not affected their traditional
business, and their economic status is change and denied for
any migration or displacement caused. The change in annual
income is reported app. Double which is good in amount.
All the respondents attributed the following impact by
Sericulture: Conservation of environment, No cutting and
felling of trees, Inter state migration is checked, Local
employment is generated, Served as additional income
generating source, Regular savings habit has been developed,
Reduction of human pressure on the forest

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