Sericulture Demonstration Unit
Sericulture Demonstration Unit | Silk Production for Rural Livelihoods
Unit Components (Demonstration Set-up)
Silkworm Rearing House
20 ft x 15 ft well-ventilated building with cement racks (3-4 tiers)
Mulberry Garden
0.25-0.50 acre of improved mulberry varieties (S-1635, V-1) planted at 90 cm x 90 cm spacing
Equipment
Rearing trays (bamboo/plastic), leaf chopping board, antiseptic powder (Vijetha), lime powder, mounting frames (chandrike) for cocooning
Rearing Cycle (One Crop = 25-30 days)
Disease Free Layings
100 DFLs (eggs) obtained from government grainages
Hatching
Eggs hatch into larvae (brushing)
Instar Feeding
1st to 5th instar - feeding fresh mulberry leaves 2-3 times daily
Spinning
Mature larvae mounted on chandrike; spin cocoon
Harvesting
Cocoons harvested 7-8 days after mounting
Production per 100 DFLs
35-45 kg of cocoons (≈ 7-8 kg raw silk)
Economic Returns (per crop per 100 DFLs)
Cost of DFLs
₹200-300
Labor & Leaf
₹1,000-1,500
Revenue (₹250-350/kg)
₹8,750-15,750
Net Profit per crop
₹7,000-14,000 | A family can take 5-6 crops per year
Training Provided
- Silkworm rearing techniques
- Disinfection and disease management (flacherie, grasserie, muscardine)
- Mulberry cultivation practices
- Cocoon marketing and value addition
50+ farmers in Jalgaon district have started sericulture after training at KVK Pal.
Current Beneficiaries
50+ farmers in Jalgaon district have started sericulture after training at KVK Pal