The Utilization of Sericulture Waste for the Improvement of Socio-Economic Welfare in India

Sericulture is an agro-based industry in a developing country like India, where there are lot of resources and labor. The industry is advantageous for the benefit of poor people inproviding opportunities for the improvement of the rural livelihood. Sericulture has played a major role in the socio economic life since 4000 years especially in occasions like marriages. Sericulture involves large scale of interdependent technologies from which useful by products will be evolved. Through theby- products and sericulture waste products, are used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, paper, agriculture and food industries. In addition to the production of silk, the industry can produce a number of by products from mulberry and silkworm. The conversion of sericulture waste into nutrient richvermicompostby using the earthworms which can be recycled into organic manure is effective for soil fertility and crop production. The handicrafts are prepared by using the waste cocoons and silk having commercial value andalso used in several occasions. The waste and the by-products of mulberry and Sericultureenhances the profit and sustainability of sericulture farmers and the industry in India.