SERICULTURE, KANDHAMAL

Sericulture is a livelihood activity that goes round the year & provides remunerative income to the farmers. About 15,000 traditional families 4 involving one lakh people actively practice sericulture in Orissa. It provides indirect employment to equal number of reelers, spinners & weavers. Out of the 4 types of silks viz. Mulberry, Tasar, Eri and Muga cultivated In India, three types namely Mulberry, Tasar and Eri culture is practiced in Orissa. These 4 types of silk differ in their food plant, duration of life cycle, quality of cocoon and yarn viz. size, weight, texture, colour, strength etc. At present with Govt. support tribals & few non-tribals under the BPL category are practicing sericulture & producing silk cocoons.

Kandhamal district in Orissa the land of dawn-lit mountains is thinly populated hill tract with dense forest covering about 71% of the area. The district is located I central Orissa bound by Boudh district in North, Rayagada in South, Ganjam and Nayagada in East and Kalahandi in West. Kandhama, being the pioneer district (undivided Boudh – Kandhamal) was crowned with sericulture programme in the year 1980-81. Sericulture is an agro based labour intensive programme provising gainful employment mostly to the rural populace by and large i.e. Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, OBC.,,Women and People out of weaker section in the district. Since that period, the tribal are practicing Eri and Mulberry culture in a limited scale. Mulberry and Eri Farmers are given initial assistance through various poverty alleviation programme from the source of Central Silk Board and State Government. There are six Mulberry Rearer’s Co-operative Societies in Phulbani, Khajuripada, Phiringia, Tikabali, G.Udayagiri and Balliguda block to support mulberry and Eri farmers in developmental activities such as providing mulberry cuttings, mulberry saplings, disease free layings (DFLs), Rearing houses, Rearing appliances, Castor seeds etc. to the farmers and rendered latest technology to the farmers at gross root level in bringing the out put in shape of cocoons.

Tassar culture is traditionally cultivated in Boudh district since time immemorial. It provides subsidiary incomes to SC&ST families. There is a Tassar Rearer’s Co-operative Society at Baunsuni in Boudh block in Boudh district. This co-operative society takes the responsibility for Tassar host plantation, providing tassar Disease Free Layings, technical guidance to Tasar reearers and marketing of Tasar cocoons.

It is observed that due to uneven distribution of rain and occasional dry spell, Kandhamal district is frequently facing drought. The farmers are in habit of leaving their cattle more than six months in a year which are the main reason for deterioration of mulberry plantation. During communal riots occurred in the year 2007-08 and 2008-09 major portion of mulberry plantations was severely damaged.

MULBERRY NURSERY FOR THE YEAR 2011-12.

2.GOVT.UNITS- MULBERRY DEMONSTRATION FARM.

In Kandhamal district there are two nos of Mulberry Demonstration Farms located at Phulbani and Balliguda with an aim to demonstrate the modern package of practices in mulberry plantation and silkworm rearing to the beneficiaries. But the buildings of the said MDFs are dilapidated and barbed wire fencing have been damaged in many places for which the achievements as per the expectations are not coming. In this regard necessary proposals have been given to the Directorate of Textiles, Orissa, Bhubaneswar for renovation of the said units. The detail achievements for the last four years of the above MDFs are as follows.

3.GOVT.SILK REELING CENTRE, PHULBANI.

One mulberry silk reeling centre has been established at Phulbani during the year 2003-04 by Phulbani MRCS out of SGSY grant. 20 Nos of women were trained in mulberry silk reeling under the programme.
The achievements of the units for the last three years are as follows.

In this unit, it is seen that most of women reeler trained in silk reeling have been married and left Phulbani area and deprived of this occupation. In order to strengthen this unit a fresh training programme on silk reeling involving 10 Nos women has been started since 18-11-2010 in Govt. Silk Reeling Centre, Phulbani. After completion of training they will be engaged in commercial reeling under self employment programme.
4.ERI BENEFICIARIES PROGRAMME.
There are two Govt. Eri Centre located at Belghar and Tumudibandh in Tumudibandh block of Kandhamal district. The Eri farmers are taking up Eri silkworm rearing in the leaves of castor plants raised by them. There are 340 Nos beneficiaries who are practicing eri culture in the adjoining area of Eri centres after getting financial assistance through the depart.

The details of achievements in Eri sector for last fours are as follows. 

5.TASSAR BENEFICIARIES PROGRAMME.
In Boudh district Baunsuni TRCS is working at Baunsuni in Boudh block. In order to provide to Tassar growers platform for tassar cultivation to grow as profitable subsidiary income. To increase Tassar host plant population, plantation programme started during the year 2004-05 under NFFWP/NREGS in this TRCS’s area with an aim to boost tassar cocoon production and provide tassar growers a gainful employment. The following are the achievement of Baunsuni TRCS for the last five years.

6.FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENT.

The funds allocation received from different sources and utilization of the same are annexed herewith for appraisal.

7.IMPLEMENTATION OF MICRO PROJECT.

Considering the topography, climatic condition and feasibility of sericulture activities of Kandhamal district it has been decided to launch a Micro Project on mulberry sector covering two blocks namely Phulbani and G.udayagiri during the year 2011-12. In this regard a detailed project proposal has been submitted to the Directorate of Textiles and Handloom, Odisha, Bhubaneswar for approval at Govt. level.

8.CONTACT US:

Asst. Director of Sericulture, Phulbani.
(Near BSNL Staff Colony).
At-Kendupadar, Po- Phulbani.
Dist.: Kandhamal, Orissa.
Fax & Phone No.-06842-253365.
E-mail: adsphulbani@yahoo.com.

ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERICULTURE ACTIVITIES OF BOUDH DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2011-12.

ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IN ERI SECTOR FOR PLANTATION/DFLS UTILISAION AND COCON PRODUCTION AND BENEFICIARY COVERAGE IN KANDHAMAL FOR THE YEAR 2011-12.

ANNUAL ACTION PLAN OF ERI DFLS PRODUCTION IN GRAINAGE UNITS, ERI CENTRES.

Component wise details on physical and financial status of Non-departmental funding.

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