INTRODUCTION- Available ancient historical records of Indian
subcontinent mention sericulture along with Agricultural practices was a mean
of livelihood of humankind. Existence of silk Route also reveals Silk Economy
among South-East Asian kingdoms covering Indian subcontinent including then
Kamrupa. An illustrious example is “Kalika-Puran [1] where depicted
the use of cloths by inhabitants of Kamrupa as four types – Karpasa (Cotton),
Kambala (Wool), Balka (Bark) and Kasaga (Silk). In Kautillya’s Arthasastra [2],
it has been mentioned that Kamrupa kingdom is called as the kingdom of cocoon
rearer. Kalhan’s Raj Taranginii [3] depicts that princess
Amritprabha married prince of Kashmir and brought with her the famous ‘Chatrri’
of Kamrupa made up of muga silk along with others rapped with decorative Muga
silk fabrics. The famous chinese buddhist traveller ‘HuenTsang’ [4]
wrote a note on use and tread of silk like Muga and Eri in Kamrupa kingdom.
Another famous historical book Banabhatta’s “Harshasharit” [5] also
mention the use of Muga silk in then Bhaskar Barman’s Kamrupa. But, the present
scenario of silk economy is quite different as advancement of sciences and
technologies are concern. Being a traditional practice, sericulture particularly
Eri and Muga silkworm in NE region has been involving the indigenous people
particularly various tribal communities. The women folks of various tribal
communities as well as economically backward families of other communities have
been practicing Muga and Eri culture. The climate as well as soil conditions of
NE region of India are so suitable for abundant flourish of various serigenus
insects [6-9] including domesticated Antheraea assamensis and Samia
ricini. Variations in soil types also concerted with luxury of different
Muga and Eri silkworm food plants [10]. A sizable variety of primary
food plants of Eri silkworm, e.g. castor exist in this region besides having
several other secondary food plants. Although, improvement through breeding has
been achieved in castor plant for more yield of seed, but for better yield of
leaf there has been less effort in breeding of this Eri food plant so far.
Similarly in the case of Muga silkworm food plant, several species are abundant
both in wild and cultivated conditions. Several morpho-types plants are
prevailing in wild vegetation as well as cultivated, no genetically improved
breed or hybrid comes in to Muga culture practices [11,12]. Further,
in the field of disease management of Eri and Muga silkworms only preventive
measures have been practicing by the rears that to the available methods
developed for Mulberry Silkworm. Stable curative methods of various diseases of
these economically important silkworms are still at stray. Thus, farmers have
been culturing these silkworms with mostly age old traditional methods; however
some short of technological interventions may be accounted. Being sericulture
national issue, both central and state government have been giving more
emphasis to boost this industry as being one of important factor for rural
employment and national economic growth [13]. As such, several vital
schemes had so far implemented catalysing enhance silk production in the
country. In Eri sector there has been a satisfactory compounded growth of 12.89%
since 2010-2011 to 2015-2016 [14]. Contrary to Eri Silk production,
Muga Silk production is far behind achieving only 6.01% compounded growth
during 2010-2011 to 2015-2016 [14].
Production Scenario of Eri-Muga
silk- Although there is less technological
intervention in the cocoon production of Eri, national production growth has
been a little bit satisfactory. Of the total silk production in India, Eri silk
contributes 17 % and about 90% of national Eri silk production is attributed by
North Eastern States. Most of Eri farmers do this culture in traditional
manner, but due to relentless effort and money investment in different schemes,
national production of Eri has showed an increasing growth during the period
from 2010-2011 to 2015-2016 accounting a compounded growth of 12.89% [15].
At other stakes of this culture, technological interventions are prominent.
Product diversification also helps in economic uplifting of stakeholders. After
all this depends upon the raw Eri cocoon production. There are enormous scopes
to increase raw Eri silk to several folds then present through technology
intervention in this sector. National production growth of Eri silk has been
represented diagrammatically by Fig. 1 and 2.
.jpg)
Fig. 1: Raw Eri silk production in 5 NE states of India
during the period 2010-2011 to 2015-2016 (Source- M/O Statistics &
Programme Implementation)
.jpg)
Fig.
2: Raw Muga silk productions in 4 NE
states of India during the period 2010-2011 to 2015 - 2016 (Source- M/O
Statistics & Programme Implementation)
Unlike
Eri silk production, Muga silk production growth is very slow accounting a
compounded growth of 6.01% during 2010 - 2011 to 2015 - 2016 [14].
Although technology interventions are there at cocoon production and Muga seed
production stakes, this sector has been encountering constrains in different
ways. As production is not satisfactory, technology intervention fails to
encourage the Muga Farmers. In other post cocoon stakes, there are full
technology interventions and stakeholders have been benefited. National
production growth of Raw silk has been represented diagrammatically by Fig. 3.
.jpg)
Fig. 3: India’s raw silk production during the period
2015-2016
Factors
Catalyse Eri-Muga Silk Production- The increasing trend in
Eri and Muga silk production in the country can be attributed to divergent
factors. Although farmers have been doing these two silkworm culture in almost
traditional ways with little technological intervention, even the production
growth curve shows annual increase. Main factors behind increased silk production
in the country are different centrally sponsored farmer’s friendly schemes by
Central Silk Board such as SGSY, CDP, VCPP, and NERTPS [16]. During
the IX plan and onward three centrally sponsored schemes (Catalytic Development
Programme) had been implemented through the sericulture Department of state
governments. During 2015-16, Government of India increased the state’s chare in
net proceeds of union tax revenue from 32% to 42%. As such central government
discontinue CDP as centrally sponsored scheme with effect from 2015-16. Instead
a new central scheme called Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry
focusing on intervention in critical areas such as breed, seed, post cocoon
technology and capacity building. Few components of CDP are also incorporated
in this scheme. Due to effective implementation of these schemes from IX plan
onwards to end of these schemes in 2015-16 had an impact on gradual increase in
silk production both in Eri and Muga sector. Further, due to fast advancement
of Fashion Technology, use of Eri and Muga yarn increases in diversified
fabrics creating a huge market demand. As result, farmers and stakeholders are
getting their legitimate prices of their produces. Furthermore, a little bite
technological interventions in these two sectors of silk industry may also be
credited for increased production.
Biodiversity Resources- NE region of
India naturally flourish with reach diversity of flora and fauna. It’s gained
the credit one of the richest biodiversity hot-spot of the world [6].
Thus, there exist a wide range of Bio-diversity sericulture related
bio-resource both food plants and wild counterparts of Eri and Muga silkworm.
In case of Eri silkworm food plant, a great variety of food plants are
available in wild and cultivated conditions [17,18]. Castor i.e. Ricinus communis Linn. alone has more
than 41 varieties being different from each other in more than one character.
These naturally occurring castor varieties had been evaluated for Eri silkworm
rearing purpose and recommended RB1 and RB3 as having highest rearing
performance. Another secondary food plant of Eri silkworm e.g. Tapioca (Manihot esculenta) has eleven known
varieties. Other Eri silkworm food plants are Kesseru (Heteropanax fragrans Seem), Payam (Evodia fraxnifolia), Bar-kesseru (Ailanthus excelsa), Barpat (Ailanthus
grandis), Gulancha (Plumeria
acutifolia), and Gamari (Gmelina
arborea). Similarly Muga silkworm also feeds on a variety of food plants
available in wild and cultivated conditions. Primary food plant of Muga
silkworm are Som (Persea bombysina Kost.)
and Soalu (Litsaea polyantha Juss.)
that are cultivated for Muga rearing. Within the species of Persea bombycina Kost [7],
several morpho-types are found in naturally growing conditions. Out of these,
S-3 and S-6 morpho-types have been recommended as best for Muga silkworm
rearing. Other food plants of Muga are Digloti (Litsaea salicifolia Hook.), Mejankari (Litsaea cubeba Lour.), Bogori (Zizyphus
jujuba Mill.), Champa (Michelia
champaca Linn.), Bhomloti (Symplocous
grandifolia Wall.), Patigonda (Actinodaphne
obovata Blume.), Gamari (Gamelina
arborea Linn.), Panchapa (Magnolia
sphenocarpa Roxb.), Katholua (Cyclicoda
phnenitida Roxb.), Gansarai (Cinnamomum
glanduliferum Meissu.), and Bojramoni (Xanthoxylum
rhesta DC).
Further,
a lot of plant species are available in this region that produces natural dyes
of attractive colour. These are Lettaccu, Termarid, Onion, Carrot, Tomato, Jack
tree etc. For colouring the Eri yarn, extracts of roots, barks, leaves,
flowers, fruits are used in single or in combination more than one plant
species [10]. There are at least three species of Eri have been in
record of which Samia ricini Donovan.
Is domesticated while S. cynthea and S. canningiis wild Eri silkworm found in
the forest of Assam and Meghalaya [11,19]. Unlike,Antharaea assamensis Helfer has no
reported species within the genus. However, some scientists reported wild
counterparts of Antharaea assamensis Helfer
as Wild Muga or Wild Races. But still, these are not established as genetically
different from domesticated Antharaea
assamensis Helfer. But some other Serigenus insect that produced Muga like
cocoon, such as Attacus atlas, Cricula trifenestrata etc [20,21].
Product Diversification-Besides being
used as fabrics, sericulture can be diversified for more economic benefit.
Diversification of fabrics according to human use is very much beneficial for
economic growth of these two industries [5,22]. Previously, only Eri
swale of Eri silk and ‘Mekhela-Sador’ of Muga silk had been used by people, but
at present Eri and Muga fabrics have been used for different ways as these two
silks can be blended with other types of fabrics producing materials [10,11,23].
Further, both Eri and Muga culture can practice for some other important
economical practices such as intercropping of food plant garden for increasing
productivity of land used, wastes as organic farming for other crops, Eri pupa
as food items, Pupa as poultry food, Pupa in piece culture, Pupa in cosmetics
etc [24].
Research Potentiality- Rich
bio-diversity of serigenus insect and their food plants are great source for
research activities to develop silk industry, particularly through breeding and
genetic engineering research. In Eri silkworm food plants, there is
considerable genetical diversity within the genus, even species of Ricinus communis [7,8,25].
There are about 41 natural varieties of Ricinus
communis so far reported besides of species of Ailanthus. Similarly, Muga food plants also have diversity within
the species of Persea bombysina and
genus Litsaea. Persea bombysina has
several morpho-types providing scope for breeding research to develop breed for
various beneficial characters. Within Litsaea
genus there exist several food plant species of Muga silkworm [10].
Samia ricini has
two wild counterparts e.g. Samia cyanthea
and Samia canningi. So, there is a
possibility to take breeding research with purpose to develop new high yielding
breed of Eri silkworm. Moreover, within the Samia
ricini, there exist six different strains and ten different eco-races. One
improved Eri silkworm hybrid so called C2 breed had been developed through
breeding research. In case of A.
assamensis, there is no genetically variant wild counterpart so far
reported. But some other serigenus species similar to A. assamensis has
been reported such as Attacus atlas, Cricula trifenestrata etc [20].
This diversity in species of serigenus insects opens space for genetic
engineering research for improvement of Muga silk industry [26].
Sericulture along with Agriculture- Sericulture is
purely an environmentally friendly natural cultural practice. The present trend
of diversification of Sericulture opens new horizon interlinking with other
livelihood practices like agriculture, pisciculture and poultry [27,28].
Thus, Eri culture and Muga culture may help in organic farming of various
agricultural crops as wastes may be used as organic manure. In the similar
line, the pupa of Eri and Muga may also be used as food in piece culture as
well as in poultry [29,30]. Again in food plant plantation land of
Eri and Muga silkworm can be utilized for intercropping to increase the
productivity of land used for additional income of farmer [6,31].
CONCLUSIONS-
Muga
culture and Eri Culture has scopes to bring a change in the rural economy as
sustainable technological intervention can increase production in these two
sectors many folds. These are rural base cultural activities and increase production
that will open the door for more manpower engagement at various stakes.
Moreover, diversification of use and growing market demand due to the
advancement of Fashion technologies will also help Muga and Eri Stakeholders
for more economic benefits. Research activities on rich Seri Biodiversity will
support to improve these two sectors of sericulture. So, appropriate research
planning is utmost necessary at present time for practical utility exploiting
these rich biodiversity resources.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
Pleasure
to take the privilege of opportunity to acknowledge SEED division (Science for Equity Empowerment and Development), Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India, New Delhi and, Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute, Central
Silk Board, Lahdoigarh for giving financial and logistic support to complete
this work.
CONTRIBUTION
OF AUTHOR
Research concept- Dr.
Himangshu Barman
Research design-
Dr. Himangshu Barman
Supervision-
S.A.S. Rahman
Materials-
Meghasree Baishya
Data collection-
Meghasree Baishya
Data analysis and interpretation-
Dr. Himangshu Barman, Meghasree Baishya
Literature research-
Dr. Himangshu Barman, Meghasree Baishya
Writing articles-
Dr. Himangshu Barman, Meghasree Baishya
Critical review-
Dr. Himangshu Barman
Article editing-
Dr. Himangshu Barman
Final approval-
S.A.S. Rahman
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