Non-mulberry silks - A major source of employment and revenue generation

摘要

Indian sericulture presents a picture of well-knit agro- based cottage industry. Production of silk and silk materials have catapulted the Indian economy to achieve a status of the second largest producer of silk in the world, next to China. India has the distinction of being gifted by nature with all four commercial varieties of silk, namely, mulberry, tasar, eri and muga. Though, originally, mulberry silk is synonymous with sericulture, other wild varieties are also becoming popular among Western countries. This paper discusses the various non-mulberry silks and their related employment potential.