An Overview of Sericulture Industry in Kashmir

ABSTRACT Sericulture is one of the oldest industries in India and Asia. Sericulture is an agro-cottage, forest based industry, labor intensive and commercially attractive economic activity falling under the cottage and small-scale sector. The silk is the final product of this industry. It particularly suits to rural population working with agriculture, entrepreneurs and artisans as it requires low investment with potential for relatively higher returns. It provides income and employment to the rural poor especially, farmers with small land-holding and marginalized and weaker sections of the society. Kashmir is a nontraditional sericulture state producing Mulberry and Tasar silk The bivoltine sericulture development has been one of the priority sectors of Indian silk industry but its production is yet to meet the targets. This paper mainly focused on the performance of Sericulture in Kashmir. Sericulture industry requires low investment and it helps to earn higher returns in short gestation period, due to this the farmers are getting attracted to this sector and it is a best tool to improve the rural economy as well as to improve their living standards.