Tropical Wild Silk Cocoons of India

Download or read book Tropical Wild Silk Cocoons of India written by P. K. Mohanty and published by Daya Books. This book was released on 2003 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In India, the production to tropical tasar silk remained next to mulberry silk for decades, constituting about 4 per cent of the total silk production. Here is an ever increasing demand for tasar silk owing to its strength, lustre and copper brown colour. The tasar silk production has stagnated and declined in the recent past through the demand is increasing. The important reasons for low production are attributed to traditional method of silkworm rearing on all trees in natural habitat, which exposes the larvae to a number of predators, parasites and diseases apart from natural vagaries. The wild sericigenous insects like tasar silkworms have in due course of time came to stay as semi domestic for the regular efforts and interests that revolved round its economic utility. Age-old craft lived with the age-old practices linked with the culture and tradition of the aboriginals; has not allowed the industry to take a commercial shape and spread. However, due stress on the application of 4 Ms, viz., man, material, machine and management need to be emphasized towards enhancing quality linked production. Considering the overall potentiality of wild silkmoths in India, the technology perfection and its adoption could go a long way in harnessing the available flora for rearing tasar silkworms which in turn can be expected to increase the cocoon productivity. In this book emphasis has been given on the types of cocoon, quality and quantum of cocoon production and introduction of improvised seed technology package. This is expected to help the readers a systematic and scientific way of cultivating the tasar. Discussion has been made as to the significance of tropical tasar culture for sustainable development. Relevant detailed references, illustrations and tables with exhaustive index had an enduring appeal for the sericulturists, biotechnologists, technocrats and students of sericulture background. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Silk Scenario; Chapter 3: Taxonomic Profile of Silkworms; Chapter 4: Development and Biometry; Chapter 5: Biometry and Typology; Chapter 6: The Future Scenario.