Project No.:ISEC1

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Karnataka sericulture project- phase-I.

Project Period :1979-1989

Objectives :

· To increase the raw silk production by about 1600 tonnes including 1000 tonnes of bivoltine silk/year.

· To introduce modern processing facilities and methods that would upgrade raw and spun silk to export grade quality.

· To introduce the latest technologies from sericulturally advanced countries and to expand local research.

Results/Recommendations :

· The project could be considered as a successfully implemented project. However, there is need to concentrate, on the experience gained in the implementation of the project on the following issues. So generate trained, skilled, reelers in the new areas.

· Initially until the reeling units are stabilized in the new area KSMB a state organization should be able to provide assured market to the silk produced in the new areas.

· The research institute to concentrate for development of suitable technology for garden and rearing management for bivoltine silk worm rearing.

· Research institute should concentrate on evolving and releasing more number of Bivoltine silkworm races suitable to the local conditions.

· CSR&TI, now established by Central Silk Board, and the silk Technology section of KSSRDI should on priority basis develop technology for processing the Bivoltine cocoons and provide adequate training facilities to the Bivoltine cocoon release.

· The state has to pay more attention in providing advisory services to the release by organizing reeling technical service centre and employing qualified personal to work in these centres.

· In the seed area particularly, Bivoltine seed area the state should ensure 100% chawki rearing.

· To promote Bivoltine cocoon and silk production the state may think of providing support prices of Rs.10/Kg of cocoon and Rs.100/Kg of silk.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1989

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Beneficiary assessment of national sericulture project in the southern state, Tamil Nadu.

Project Period :1990

Results/Recommendations :

· Farmers must be educated in water management and agronomical practices to facilitate better application of fertilizers and reap better quality leaf.

· Improvement in seed quality should be ensured by adopting measures such as standardization of quality control and strengthening the seed areas.

· Period training to upgrade the technical knowledge of extra staff is needed. Special emphasis is needed to take note of local socio-cultural agronomic and factors.

· In order to strengthen the markets there is a need to encourage local reeling activity.

· Selected local women (from villages) could be adopted after giving training in sericulture as sericulture workers, village level training cum workshop programmes need to be organized with a special emphasis on women involvement in sericulture, to educate the farmers in sericulture technology.

Source of Information : Beneficiary Assessment Report:1990

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Bivoltine cocoon production for raw silk in Karnataka.

Personnel :Acharya J, Gayatri Devi KG, Govindraju KV, Sudhamani N, Manjula NR, Parameswarappa KJ, Jayasheela

Project Period :1990-1991

Objectives :

· To assess the motivation for and acceptability of bivoltine race among rearers in the selected ‘non-seed’ areas of Karnataka.

· To assess the rearers perceptions, experiences and problems in the rearing of bivoltine silkworms.

· To assess the rearers perceptions and preferences between bivoltine pure v/s Bivoltine hybrid if any, and again between Bivoltine v/s CB races of silkworms.

· To estimate the profitability of rearing bivoltine vis-à-vis that of rearing CB.

· To assess the farmers perception of and responses to the suggested package of practices in particular, and extension in general.

· To assess the rearers opinions and experiences on the price support, marketing arrangements, and other measures.

· To understand the problems faced especially by the small and marginal farmers in rearing bivoltine.

Results/Recommendations :

· Area and season specific thrust: The current policy of encouraging bivoltine in specific seasons of the year and in favorable agro-climatic regions, should be continued.

· Extension support: Greater attention needs to be paid, quality should be reflected in the extension staff’s own activities before they advocate them to the farmers.

· Greater follow-up is necessary to monitor and reduce the gap between farmers and practices levels.

· Extension staff have expressed a need for greatest clarity on the differences between the recommended package of practices for bivoltine and that of Central Silk Board.

· Improving reeling technology for bivoltine: Efforts should be made to improve the reeling technology for processing bivoltine so as to reduce the wastage percentage, and make bivoltine reeling more profitable for the reelers.

· Quality and price: Bivoltine for seed v/s bivoltine for reeling: A uniform pricing policy of all bivoltine cocoons depending on their quality gradation. A uniform practicable criteria of testing the quality of cocoons whether for seed or for reeling using either number of cocoons per Kg or silk content for gradation of the bivoltine cocoons for purposes of price fixation.

· Support price: Criteria for selection of seed cocoons should be made more stringent than what they are, so that higher prices are always related to higher quality.

· Uniformity across states: Uniform race for seed and reeling.

· Criteria for gradation: Uniform criteria for gradation of all bivoltine cocoons.

· Pricing system: Uniform criteria for bivoltine for seed and reeling.

· Demand for bivoltine cocoons: Make fresh examination of the demand structure and preferences for bivoltine raw silk, while formulating the targets and policies for the remaining period of the project.

Source of Information : Completed Project Report:1991

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Bivoltine hybrid cocoon production in Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Acharya J, Sivaprasad R, Ashok Kumar EN, Gopalappa DV

Project Period :1990-1991

Objectives :

· To assess the attitudes and motivations towards the Bivoltine Hybrid (BVH) programme among BVH rearers and non-BVH rearers.

· To assess the experiences of producing BVH cocoons vis-à-vis CB cocoons.

· The profitability of BVH production the marketing arrangements, prices offered and returns realized by the farmers.

· The adequacy and effectiveness of the extension education and supports envisaged under the BVH programme.

· The level of awareness of the recommended package of practices among the rearers and the latters views and perspectives.

Results/Recommendations :

· The current practice of taking up bivoltine only during the winter months under a selected farmer approach should continue.

· Farmers should be selected much in advance and it should be ensured that the gardens are ready for rearing BVH silkworms.

· The practices of mulberry cultivation/garden maintenance need to be improved very much.

· Greater attention should be paid to chawki preparation.

· Organizing farmers training programmes would be very useful.

· Extension personnel, especially the workers, need a orientation training with regard to BVH rearing and disease prevention extension personnel themselves need to be convinced and motivated about the BVH programme.

· Adopting selected households for demonstration rearing by the extension staff, will go a long way in improving the adoption levels of the suggested packages.

· A few measures are suggested for rectification of the anamoly and to encourage bivoltine production:

· A uniform bivoltine race which will be equally suitable for seed and for reeling should be chosen for the programme.

· A uniform pricing policy of all bivoltine cocoons depending on their quality gradation should be worked out.

· A uniform but practicable set of criteria for testing and grading cocoons, whether for seed or for reeling, using either number of cocoons per kg or silk ratio should be worked out for price fixation.

· Ultimately the profitability of bivoltine production would depend on a remunerative price for the farmer which in turn depended on a good demand for reelers, which in its turn depended on the demand of bivoltine raw silk.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1991

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Beneficiary Assessment Report: on Tamil Nadu first round.

Personnel :Tharamangalam J, Acharya J, Govindraju KV, Emmanuel Raj JS, Gregory S

Project Period :1990

Objectives :

· To conduct intensive field work in the communities in order to understand their problems, concerns and their perspectives.

· To communicate these understandings to the implementing agencies to assist them in making modifications in project design and implementation as needed.

Results/Recommendations :

· Farmers must be educated in water management and agronomical practices for moisture conservation and to facilitate better application of fertilizers and to reap better quality leaf.

· In a water stress situation, soil moisture retention methods through the use of mulching materials like dry leaves, hay, straw, cut grass and black polyethelene sheets may be feasible propositions to be advocated to the farmers.

· Periodic training to upgrade the technical knowledge, including communication skills of extension staff is needed. Special emphasis is needed to take note of local socio-cultural agronomic and other factors.

· Impact high plant density on production of leaf.

· Necessity of investment on equipments like trays, paraffin paper etc. as and when they are worn out.

· Intricacies involved in the production of disease free layings to avoid misconceptions in farmers mind about the quality of layings.

· Extension staff need to pay greater attention as to why the adopted practices are not being effective. Prompt advice at this level will further strengthen the rapport with the farmers already built up by the extension staff.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1990

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Bivoltine hybrid cocoon production in Tamil Nadu.

Personnel :Acharya J, Govindaraju KV, Emmanuel Raj JS, Gregory S, Saraswati G

Project Period :1991

Objectives :

· To assess the existing level of technology and practices across the regions vis-à-vis the requirements of the programme in terms of factors like level of irrigation, variety of mulberry, crop husbandry practices etc.

· To understand farmers motivations, perceptions and experiences in rearing of bivoltine hybrid race as well as crop husbandry practices.

· To assess the profitability of rearing of BVH vis-à-vis cross breed (CB).

· To assess the factors responsible for relatively successful V/s unsuccessful BVH crops with their divergent linkages and patterns.

· To understand the role played by extension in the BVH programme in the interface with the farmers including problems and bottlenecks.

Results/Recommendations :

· The present season-specific and selected farmer approach for BVH programme should be continued.

· The areas to be selected for the BVH programme should be confined to the more productive and agro-climatically favourable belts.

· While the criteria for beneficiary selection is by and large okay, the process of selection should be carefully carried out.

· The quality of BVH seeds supplied need to be improved.

· Special training programmes for BVH rearers should be organized. Preferably combined training programmes for farmers and extension workers should be organized.

· Separate package of practices for BVH rearing in particular distinguishing them from those of CB rearing should be worked out.

· Leaf quality/maturity and disease identification /control measures should be emphasized both in the training programmes and in the leaflets.

· The wide divergence in the price between bivoltine seed cocoons and bivoltine hybrid cocoons for reeling, even for cocoons of similar quality produces a paradoxical situation which needs to be rectified for sustainability of the entire bivoltine programme.

· Ultimately, the profitability of BVH rearing would depend on its demand by reelers, which in turn depended on demand for BVH raw silk.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1991

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Silk reeling in Karnataka: A study of Ramanagaram and Sidlaghatta reeling centres.

Project Period :1991-1992

Objectives :To improve the quality and productivity of Indian silk and development of women through sericulture and related activities.

Results/Recommendations :

· There is a need to give utmost priority to creating a quality awareness among the rearers and bridge the knowledge gap between reelers and rearers.

· Establishing one or two charkhas in villages/CRCs to demonstrate reeling will not only enable the farmers to learn about quality and reelability but also enable them to get their cocoons periodically tested and price estimated before coming to the market.

· Spinning has been found to influence to a greater extent the reeling parameters of cocoons.

· By way of a preparation for the market, the advantages of sorting out better cocoons and defective ones into separate lots, should be brought home to the farmers.

· While most of the reelers are able to assess the renditta and reelability by touch and feel method, that is not a fool proof method especially in cloudy conditions. Facilities using simple and practicable techniques should be made available at the cocoon markets.

· The possibility of keeping the auctions open for a second session in the afternoon should be considered.

· Efforts should be made to introduce new ideas and products at the cocoon markets which will have a greater effectiveness.

· Efforts should be made to motivate and educate the reelers workers on the importance of hygienic condition at the work place, specific dietary requirements for reeling workers, and measures to be taken to minimize the health hazards arising out of reeling.

· Adequate number of dispensaries should be provided in the reeling centres.

· Special efforts should be made to provide education to child labourers in evening/night schools together with free dinner.

· Interaction between the research centres and the reeling community, almost non-existent now should be given a greater priority.

· The credit system should be reorganized. Greater attention should be given to the credit needs of small reelers. If necessary, this should be tied-up with marketing mechanism for direct repayment.

· More incentives should be provided to the enforcement staff, so that the traders find it cheaper to come to the silk exchange rather than pay heavy tips or fines.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Marketing of cocoons in Karnataka.

Personnel :ISEC team members

Project Period :1991

Objectives : To bring into focus the various marketing facilities provided in building up an efficient marketing system for silkworm cocoons and how far the markets are functioning.

Results/Recommendations :

· Considerable investments have been made to develop the cocoon markets in the state both in the traditional and new areas. Much need to be done on terms of providing sheltered place for cocoons as well as humans.

· It was observed that a large part of the fluctuations in cocoon prices could be attributed to the movement in yarn prices, the residual variation in the absence of any grade specific price quotations, has to be taken as due to quality variation.

· As far as the traditional areas and marketing of cocoons are concerned though the data analysis indicates that markets are competitive, a much more detailed analysis covering more areas is called for before making a categorical statement in this regard.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1991

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture in new areas of Karnataka: A study of two clusters in two districts.

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To understand the motivational factors guiding the behavior of farmers in terms of their priority for sericulture vis-à-vis other crops, based on

v The relative profitability of sericulture vis-à-vis other crops.

v The farmers capacity to invest on sericulture.

v The relative risks involved in silkworm rearing, as perceived by the farmers.

v The availability of skilled labour.

v The availability of rearing space and other resources

· To assess the role of sericulture extension in motivating people to undertake sericulture and the effectiveness of and problems in the transfer of technology.

· To understand the different rearing practices in relation to the corresponding yield levels, and the farmers perceptions about these practices.

· To assess the problems and prospects of the weaker sections and women sericulture in the new areas.

Results/Recommendations :

· Supply of quality seed must be ensured as farmers are fast losing their trust in the DOS especially after the recent crop failures, partly due to their own wrong practices and partly due to the lack of quality seed in the wake of the recent “Pebrine crisis”.

· Close follow-up through regular visits of extension staff is needed.

· Locally suitable package of practices for mulberry cultivation is required in the content of excessive water availability.

· Farmers may be advised to plant mulberry in uplands and on elevated areas.

· Proper incubation of dfls and chawki rearing practices need to be taught.

· Disinfection measures are inadequate and preparation of formalin chaff is not clear to many farmers. Identification of diseases and remedial measures to particular diseases are also not known. Farmers have to be trained in these aspects.

· Proper spacing of worms in the trays, harvesting of leaf at cooler hours and maintenance and replacement of rearing trays, need to be attended. Farmers need to be trained in these aspects.

· Training programmes have proved to be useful and effective in advocating the required practices.

· Even in the contents of the programme, the women sericulturists who were trained have felt that they knew much than what was taught.

· Lectures on and explanations of successful silkworm rearing practices should be arranged by including the actual practitioners from the same or nearby villages.

· Camps and trips to prospective areas of sericulture may be arranged to expose some of the local male/female sericulturists to the adoption of new technology and related aspects.

· Women from all adult age groups, literacy levels and socio-economic categories should be identified for training, rather than from the educated young groups only.

· While the span of ten days was found to be adequate enough for a kind of exposure, most of the trainees would like their doubts to be clarified through follow-up visits, question-answer sessions and small-group discussions under the auspices of the technical staff.

· The frequency and span of training camps should be as per local level needs, and should be so co-ordinated that the TSC staff could provide adequate attention and it would be possible for the senior staff to monitor the programmes.

· Greater emphasis should be given on monitoring the progress on socio-economic class based targets for extension, training, expansion and credit.

· The WPEWs are trained in sericulture at training schools for a period of one month.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Problems and prospects of sericulture in Tamil Nadu: A study of two clusters in two districts.

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To understand the factors affecting the expansion of sericulture especially among the poorer sections of society.

· To understand the factors responsible for differential levels of productivity among farmers of different categories.

· Assessing the farmers needs and problems in terms of training and extension education and other supports like credit.

· Assessing the dynamics of group formation among women, its impact on sericulture and women’s development.

Results/Recommendations :

· Under water stress conditions, farmers have to be trained to maximize their returns within the available resources through proper water management techniques.

· Introduction of hardy and drought resistant mulberry varieties, though already in the process should be widely popularized and expedited to fit into the water stress conditions.

· The possibility of introducing rainfed mulberry varieties has to be explored.

· The availability of government or private land within the village range which could be leased out to the landless for sericulture, should be explored.

· Farmers in Dindigal prefer chawki worms for reducing the duration of rearing at home, and thereby increasing the frequency of rearing in the split-plot system of mulberry especially when irrigation conditions are favourable.

· Credit has to be extended even to those who take up sericulture in less than 0.50 acre of mulberry garden.

· Apart from the general credit scheme extended to the sericulturists for initial investment, the provision for mulberry “crop” loans should be further facilitated.

· The non-recognition of leased in sericulturists by the DOS is a serious constraint for the former to have access to the inputs and support provided by the government, other agencies and banks.

· There is a need for strengthening and consolidating sericulture in the existing area under mulberry, even while targeting for further expansion.

· Extension staff must categorize the farmers into different groups based on their problems, performance records, their resources and constraints.

· Apart from sericultural information, techniques of interpersonal communication should form significant component of the training curriculum for the extension staff.

· Encouragement and recognition by way of appropriate incentives would help extension staff to take a greater interest in their work.

· Greater priority should be given to village based training programmes. The staff organizing the programme should be given maximum support and guidance.

· Extension staff should be instructed to give greater attention to locally relevant problems and practices.

· Demonstrational training would go a long way in improving the acceptability of the advocated package of practices.

· In order to improve the accessibility of women to extension, locally recruited female para extension workers can be profitably employed in all major sericultural villages, after a 3 months training on the basis of a nominal monthly honorarium.

· The possibility of training some of the persons among the landless and weaker sections, who lack the necessary infrastructure for taking up sericulture, in reeling activity, and providing them the necessary credit and other support for establishing charkha units should be explored.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Access to infrastructure and sustainability in sericulture: A study of Palani taluk in Tamil Nadu.

Personnel :Acharya J, Govindraju KV, Gregory S

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To examine the processes of development and assess the impact of programmes and efforts.

Results/Recommendations :

· The extension must make a selective approach and concentrate on

a) Farmers who are getting low yield or facing frequent crop failures.

b) Farmers who have dropped out are likely to drop out of sericulture.

· Greater attention should be given to the problems of sustainability of the existing sericulturists especially in increasing their level of productivity.

· Adequate attention needs to be given to mulberry cultivation practices, especially under conditions of water scarcity. Special techniques of farm management practices have to be incorporated into the packages of practices advocated through extension.

· Given the acute water scarcity condition, a greater thrust needs to be placed on popularization of drought-resistant mulberry varieties, and also tree mulberry.

· Summer seed production programme should be evolved in collaboration with Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute. If possible local male x bivoltine female breeding can also be tried out.

· Tamil Nadu white race supply should be maintained in the areas where it is in high demand and it should be advocated in the areas where it is suitable.

· Extension should help in carrying out worm-testing in cases of suspected disease infection.

· In providing disinfection services, priority should be given to

Ø areas with low yield performance.

Ø Farmers with continuous crop losses/or lower yields.

· The floor price criteria in the cocoon market should be modified.

· Immediate cash payment should be ensured to the sellers of cocoons at the market. In case of government procurement, adequate revolving fund should be provided.

· For a better competitive price for the cocoons, the reeling infrastructure has to be adequately expanded.

· The DOS should introduce some reward system at the TSC level, e.g. the best sericulturists of the month based on cocoon quality and yield levels.

· While attempting to bring the low-resource base groups into sericulture, care must be taken so as

Ø to increase their level of awareness and motivation and train them before they take up mulberry cultivation.

Ø to provide continuous follow-up visits and necessary support atleast for a period of two years so that they can attain an optimal efficiency level.

· Timely availability of credit being a critical factor in the sustainability of poorer farmers in sericulture, a frequent monitoring of credit disbursal and follow-up with the banks are imperative.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture under water scarcity: A study of three clusters in Tamil Nadu.

Personnel : Acharya J, Pugazhendi P, Govindraju KV, Gregory S

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To carry out and intensive study on the different dimensions of water scarcity, and on the farmers responses to the water scarce conditions.

Results/Recommendations :

· Cooking at the water scarcity situation in most parts of Tamil Nadu and the severe consequences of likely disasters, a long term strategy for sericulture needs to be drawn up.

· It is important that the taluk/block be taken as a unit of classification rather than the district which covers too larger an area. A suggested classification could be:

v Extremely dry Zones

v Dry zones

v Wet zones

v Intermediate zones

· The extremely dry zones, with chronic drought conditions should be regarded as non-priority areas from the stand point of mulberry cultivation, where the first priority of the farmers would be to grow food crops.

· The package of practices should lay emphasis not and maximizing the yield/but rather on a low - input based, risk free, mulberry crop. Suitable silkworm races should also be propagated.

· In the intermediate zones, the emphasis should be on consolidating, rather than on expanding the mulberry aerage, thus preventing further uprooting.

· Packages of practices to be advocated in the intermediate zones should include farm management practices like mulching, bundling, dry ploughing, furrowing putting extra doses of green manures and FYM.

· Training and extension support: The extension staff need to be thoroughly familiarized with the details of water management practices, and should be able to apply the same to the local conditions. A vigorous campaign in the form of farmers training programmes on water management should be carried out.

· Credit and infrastructural support: Credit regulations have to be liberalized, steps have to be taken to facilitate credit flow to the poorer rearers.

· Promotion of mulberry tree plantation in the place of bushes may be considered as an alternative strategy in certain selected areas especially in the dry, and even in the intermediate zones.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Silk reeling in Tamil Nadu: Problems and prospects: A study of Dharmapuri.

Personnel : Acharya J, Govindraju KV, Saraswathi G

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To understand the present status of reeling industry, and the supporting facilities available for its development.

· To estimate the profitability in silk reeling.

· To understand the nature and composition of the work force engaged in reeling, their problems especially of women workers.

· To assess the needs and constraints in the expansion of reeling industry in terms of supporting facilities like training of entrepreneurs skilled workers, credit facilities market support etc.

Results/Recommendations :

· The working capital component in the credit scheme for reelers should be enhanced from Rs.9,000/- to Rs.15,000/- per basin.

· Non-availability of skilled labour being a major bottle-neck, efforts should be made to organize training programmes for reeling workers on a large scale. Trainees for this programme must be from among persons already working as wage workers in other spheres.

· Separate entrepreneurial development programmes should be worked out for carefully selected and motivated beneficiaries, atleast fifty percent of which should be women. This programme should be of one month duration and should include in its curriculum topics like accounting, credit procedures, firld visits to selected reeling centres of Karnataka etc.

· For improving the market facilities for local reelers, a silk exchange needs to be set up at Dharamapuri, equipped with silk testing and grading facilities.

· RRTC type of training should be made for accommodation and food for the trainees, as it is a six months training course.

· The training programmes should be followed up with officials visits to find out the problems of the trainees, and how best the reeling knowledge can be utilized. Special efforts should be made to encourage women entrepreneurship by facilitating credit flow to the trainees.

· Women reeling complexes should be established through NGO’s, for motivated women trainees.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :A study on Local race silkworm seed organization in Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Acharya J, Ashok Kumar EN

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To assess the farmer responses to the measures introduced by the DOS under the seed programme.

· To identify the factors and the farmers rationalities in the adoption and non-adoption of specific sericulture practices advocated by the DOS.

· To understand the seed farmers affecting the quality and quantity of seed cocoon production among the various categories of seed rearers.

· To understand the seed farmers problems and perceptions about seed cocoons production and about the various DOS programme components.

· To assess the adequacy of extension and other services extended by the DOS.

· To understand the problems of the weaker sections and women in terms of their access to resources, extension other supports and credit.

· To understand the farmers sense of involvement and identification and the level of their perception of their role in the sericulture industry as a whole.

· To understand the factors contributing towards the development of a depending syndrome among the farmers, and to suggest certain ways and means of braking this syndrome, especially to identify the items on which subsidies could be eased out.

Results/Recommendations :A suitable forum has to be organized where the seed farmers, grainage and marketing officials and CB farmers, can share one another’s view, experiences and concerns. This would facilitate the members of each section to realize their intricate relationship with the others.

One suggestion is to have a rearers committee at the TSC level consisting of one farmer from each village. The committee could meet once a month together with the officials.

DFLs supply :Distribution of layings needs to be rationalized as a first come first served basis.

In order to ensure timely supply of dfls in adequate quantities to the regular seed growers, measures should be taken to improve the support system at P₃ and P₂ levels.

Extension :Substitute farmers have a great need for extension support. In each village, regular group discussions should be organized by the extension staff, where the experiences of each crop in each season could be shared among all sections of the farmers.

The farm foreman should try to locate the reasons for the success/failure of the farmers during the previous crop in the same village and use these cases as illustrations during discussions. This method would prove to be highly effective for the farmers.

Marketing : Cheques should be issue immediately after the transaction in the seed market. A pass book system should be introduced with special columns on input supply, dfls brushed, yield, prices received and credit if availed, which will help in monitoring the seed programme.

Women’s programme : Introduction of ‘Pigmy’ system with a female collector would facilitate women’s savings. Prejudices of men that women programmes are antagonistic to their interests have to be eliminated. In order to improve women’s access to extension the scheme of employing women extension workers should be expedited in the seed area.

Weakers sections : The present leasing system may be encouraged so that those who have water resources can expand their area under mulberry, and lease out to the landless and marginal farmers.

Credit :The subsidy component alone should not be disbursed to the farmers without the loan component, while advancing the credit. Proper recovery arrangements have to be made so as to make sericulture an attractive and credit worthy activity for the bankers.

Sericulture should be split up into two spheres of activity for banker categorization.

On farm, similar to agricultural credit, on items like digging wells and other irrigation infrastructure, establishing new plantations etc., and

Off farm, similar to “artisan” credit on items like raring shed, rearing equipment, working capital.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :NGO development and sericulture : A study of a backward clusters in Ranakuppam Mandal of Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Acharya J, Ashok Kumar EN, Gopalappa DV

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To understand the problems and prospects of sericulture in a less developed area.

· To assess the role played by various institutions including NGOs in promoting sericulture

· To assess the factors associated with poor quality of rearing and low yields.

· To assess the problems of extension and understand the bottlenecks in the adoption of improved package of practices.

· To estimate the returns from sericulture across various farm-size categories.

· To bring out the impact of sericulture on women and weaker sections.

Results/Recommendations :

· Methods of soil preparation, maintenance of soil fertility, importance of FYM and appropriate fertilizers etc., have to be taught to the farmers to improve the leaf quality.

· Farmers could be educated on how to make alterations in the rearing house to provide better aeration, humidity and temperature control.

· Intensive extension activities are needed in this are to promote improved package of practices among the farmers deputing higher level extension staff to impart expert advice to the farmers is necessary.

· DOS activities could be concentrated in such adopted villages, and the success would serve as a demonstrations to the farmers in other villages.

· As a part of the training programme, farmers of this area of the state and even outside.

· GRASS, an NGO already functioning in this area could be involved in the training and demonstration activities of the DOS.

· The integrated institutional approach with NGOs has proved to be a workable model particularly in the backward areas where expansion of sericulture is well coordinated activities of these institutions have facilitated a break-through in sericulture in terms of expansion of mulberry. The involvement of NGO in this objective is particularly relevant.

· The local NGO (GRASS) has been already organizing women savings and credit societies, and other activities to develop women’s consciousness, leadership qualities and access to credit. There is a good response to this programme. DOS can make use of such NGOs to promote various women oriented sericulture programmes such as training, credit and group formation etc.

· Credit flow to small farmers to set up borewells should be facilitated.

· Credit flow to a few women in the village has proved to be very encouraging in terms of increasing their status in the family and village. Efforts should be made to increase the number of women beneficiaries under the credit scheme.

· A delinking of moriculture from rearing for credit purposes and the facilitation of support services to them will go a long way in encouraging them.

· Credit recovery situation in the village is not encouraging for further credit programmes credit groups could be organized through the NGO to educate the farmers regarding prompt repayment to ensure further loans for their development.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report :1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Formation of women groups in sericulture in Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Acharya J, Ashok Kumar EN, Venugopal N, Radha TM

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To ensure access of women to land, technology and credit.

· To organize women into groups for economic viability and mutual support so as to enhance their status in terms of decision making, control over resources and control over the benefits derived from such sources.

Results/Recommendations :

Pandiparthi cluster : The first and foremost measure to be taken to improve the programme is to provide a viable mulberry garden of a size not less than 50 cents on a single plot.

Extra financial assistance is urgently needed to strengthen the soil fertility by putting new soil and FYM in order to ensure good leaf and cocoon yield.

To strengthen the group and improve the utilization of the resources and also to provide the necessary training and motivation an NGO should be involved to work with the group.

Since the programme is addressed to the lowest strata of the village consisting of wage labourers, there is need for incorporating some security measures against the risk of crop loss.

Some uniformity has to be ensured while distributing lands based on parameters of both size and quality.

In order to give women a better share in the programme and to reduce the dominance of men, the cooperative society has to make women’s participation in sericulture mandatory.

Both men and women beneficiaries need to conscientised about the objectives of the programme and the cooperation f men should be sought whenever necessary.

The present arrangement for credit withdrawals and utilization may be continued, and women need to be trained properly not only in rearing technology but also in banking procedures, budgeting etc. The proposed women thrift groups should be initiated as early as possible.

To supplement the income from sericulture, a subsidiary activity is a must for many beneficiaries, especially those with a very small size garden and those who have to wait till the second phase for the allotment of suitable garden at adequate size. A pair of bullocks and a cart could be considered as a set of secondary assets to generate some additional income for these beneficiaries.

Yelikatta: While all the other ingradients for the development of sericulture are present in the village, unless some measures are taken to provide water for irrigation, one can not expect any real progress in the sericultural status of the village.

The present provisions in the unit cost are inadequate of for the purpose. A more realistic costing needs to be worked out.

Efforts should be made to introduce sericulture into the other part of the village so as to create a congenial atmosphere.

The training programmes should be continued on a regular basis, preferably with the help of an NGOs so as to develop, the women’s general awareness team work and cooperation, details about the development administration, accounting etc., besides sericulture technology. There should be a gender sensitization programme for men also.

Efforts should be made to formalize the women’s group as soon as possible with democratic elections.

Till sericulture becomes a full time activity, it may be necessary to sustain the group by encouraging other economic activities like dairying, tailoring etc.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture in new areas: A study of advanced bivoltine sericulture in Western ghats of Karnataka.

Personnel :Acharya J, Gayathri Devi KG, Sudish BS

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To study the socio-economic status of sericulturists.

· To evaluate the crop performance in Western ghats.

· To examine the quality and productivity in Western ghats.

· To determine the reasons for low scale production.

· To study the market of bivoltine seed cocoons.

Results/Recommendations :

· The Sirsi experience brings out the enormous scope for high technology sericulture with higher quality and better productivity in similar agro-climatic areas, provided adequate extension efforts are made, and a market is ensured for this high quality produce.

· The enterprising nature of sericulturists has rendered the extension messages of the Department of Sericulture not very useful and are outdated. Hence, there is the need to evolve new strategies or ways of rearing silkworm with an eye on higher productivity.

· Co-operative CRC which is successfully functioning in Devanahalli could be replicated in other places where it is introduced.

· Marketing of bivoltine seed cocoons can be made a pleasant experience for the farmers by undertaking measures for expediting payments to the sericulturists.

· Acquiring land titles is problematic, since much of the area is encroached. Therefore the criteria for availing credit for sericulture must be made flexible.

Source of Information :Beneficiaries assessment report 1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Puppets on silk strings: Child workers in the silk reeling industry of Karnataka.

Personnel :Acharya J, Shashikala S, Manjula NR

Project Period :1992

Objectives :To study on the status of children in silk industry, their conditions of work, motivations and aspirations, their problems and compulsion, child abuse and health hazards and other related aspects affecting working children, so as to draw the attention of all concerned towards this invisible component of the reeling work force.

Results/Recommendations :

Technology :Abolition of manual driven charakha :Power driven charakhas which replace turner-children should be encouraged. This could be done by

v Giving no new licence to hand driven charakhas units in future.

v All hand driven charakhas should be motorized by giving an incentive in the form of a one-time grant of an electric motor to all manually driven charakha owners.

In areas without electricity or with irregular supplies, diesel motors could be provided to the reelers at subsidized rates. The reelers have to be motivated to bring about this change of technology with the help of NGO coordinated motivation campaigns.

To do away with pupae-picking by children, Sidlaghatta type of removable reeling basins may be advocated.

Again, to help reduce the drudgery of the cooks, who have to make numerous trips from the cooking basin to the reeling basins, modifications to have both the basins in the same platform (Sidlaghatta type) could be advocated.

Training : Orientation programmes for parent and entrepreneurs should be organized with the help of NGOs to create an awareness on health hazards and on the necessity of sending children to school etc. The NGOs should make the parents become aware of the dangers of a crippled childhood, of the fact that pushing a child to work is denying him/her the right to love, affection, growth and a future. The enterpreneurs should also be made to realize the need to eliminate an activity like pupae picking.

Education and other welfare measures :Evening schools should be opened to help working children. This would create some opportunities in future. It is preferable to open evening school-cum-free meal centres in each of intensives reeling areas with the involvement of NGOs, where children working in the reeling sector should be provided with a meal after the working hours.

Children should be given a periodic health check-up and medicines and some sessions should be conducted on general knowledge, awareness etc.

Adult education programmes should also focus on the need for the abolition of child labour and on the rights of children.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Silk reeling in Andhra Pradesh:Problems and prospects.

Personnel :Acharya J, Shashikala S, Gopalappa DV

Project Period :1992

Objectives :

· To assess the reelers needs, problems and perspectives pertaining to

v Adequacy of infrastructural conditions, supports and bottlenecks.

v Marketing channels, linkages and facilities.

v Availability of credit, constraints in credit flow and credit requirements.

· To understand the reeler’s preferences and criteria in adopting technology, more specifically to explore the possibility of introducing advanced reeling technology.

· To draw out a profile of the reeling work force in terms of the extent of employment and participation of male, female and child labour.

· To investigate in particular, the extent of prevalence of child labour in reeling, their conditions of work and child abuse.

· To study the process of skill formation and more specifically, the efficacy of the DOS organised training and entrepreneur development at programmes.

· To assess the operational viability and sustainability of the silk reeling complex set up by the DOS.

· To estimate the profitability of silk reeling for different categories of reelers.

Results/Recommendations :

Children :It may be necessary to give a one-time grant of an electric motor to all manually driven charakha owners. This could be implemented with the help of an NGO.

An evening school-cum-free meal centre should be opened in each of the reeling areas with the involvement of NGOs where children working in the reeling sector should be provided with a meal after the working hours. The programme should be organized as an NSP component.

Children should be given a health check-up and medicines and some sessions should be conducted on general knowledge/awareness, simple mechanics, reeling technology etc.

Women :Encouragement should be given to women reelers coming to the cocoon market by way of waiving the marketing free upto 50% for women reelers participating in the market.

While giving credit, women whose children are working on wages for other reelers should be given priority.

Reeler’s Societies :To improve the functioning of societies, a number of motivation camps, orientation programmes should be conducted.

Technology :To improve the quality of the locally available water and make ti more suitable especially for filature reeling, water softening plants should be instralled in each of the reeling localities.

Filature silk reeling can be introduced by encouraging 2 basin cottage units.

Any introduction of new technology in an area should have a step by step approach.

Silk Marketing :Small reelers badly need a local marketing facility for their raw silk. This can be done by staring a Silk Exchange at Hindupur. In order to stabilize the silk prices, a market intervention mechanism is to be worked out, say by way authorizing SERIFED to purchase and sell raw silk based on the day to day market trends.

A simpler and practicable testing method should be worked out and a graded floor price should be given for encouraging quality silk.

Silk Reeling complexes :Building of reeling complexes has been a successful exercise, and more such complexes should be set up. All complexes should be designed as housing-cum-working sheds, otherwise its usefulness would be lost.

There is a good scope for organizing an adult literacy campaign among the beneficiary women in the complex.

Orientation programmes to create awareness both among the officers and the beneficiaries should be a necessary part of the implementation programme.

Training :The training progrmme under TRYSEM is very unsuccessful as there is nto much money allocated to buy cocoons for the trainees.

In all the training programmes, at least 50% of the candidates should be women, married women should be given preference over the unmarried.

The charakha component in the present training curriculum is too weak, and needs to be strengthened.

Those who have taken credit and started their own industry, should be asked to train one or two candidates sponsored by the Department in their units.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report: 1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Child labourers in post cocoon sector-A profile (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu).

Personnel :ISEC team members

Project Period :1992

Objectives : To understand the problems of Child labourers in traditional states of sericulture.

Results/Recommendations :

· Amongst the 3 states where the present study was carried out in A.P. has the highest number of child population in the age group of 5-14, while Tamil Nadu and Karnataka ranks second and third respectively.

· The participation rates of child workers in the age group of 5-4 years vary across different states. At all India level the full time workers are higher among boys than girls while the nowhere are greater among girls. The school enrolment is higher for boys, which is also reflected in the 3 states of A.P. the full time female child worker are higher than male full time worker. It is the reverse in the other two states. In all the 3 southern states the number of female nowhere children is higher than the male nowhere children. Similarly the marginal workers are higher among girls than boys.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Chawki rearing centres in Andhra Pradesh: Their acceptability, viability and sustainability.

Personnel : Acharya J, Ashok Kumar EN

Project Period :1992

Objectives : Promotion of chawki rearing centres through the private sector.

Results/Recommendations :

Training of CRC beneficiaries (owners):

· In order to be seen a CRC a private enterprise, the CRC owners need not only have the technical expertise but also need to have proper motivation, training in management strategies and salesmanship. Being progressive farmer alone does not suffice the need for a successful CRC.

· CRC Modals: The introduction of new model CRCs should be continued since it costs relatively less to the DOS exchequer selection criteria of the beneficiaries should also include entrepreneurial ability in addition to being a progressive farmer.

· The new model of CRC needs fine tuning before implementing in different regions. For instance for Atmakur divisions, present low model CRC components are not effective and practicable.

· The CRCs should be allowed to buy laying from sources of their choice.

· Single garden leaf should be insisted upon for maintaining the long term interest of chawki as a concept.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1992

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Constraints in the development of sericulture in new area: A case study of Karimnagar District (Andhra Pradesh).

Personnel :Govinda Raju, KV, Gopalappa DV

Project Period :1993

Objectives :

· To study the significant factors come in the way of expansion and sustainability.

· To study the infrastructural bases like technical service centres, Govt. grainages, cocoon markets, etc., accessible to all sericulturists.

· To study the problems faced by sericulturists.

· To study the problems faced by sericulturists in making optimal utilisation of the services.

· To study the income level of sericulturists across different land holding and socio-economic categories and the extent of employment of sericulture.

· To study the role of women in the development of sericulture and how to integrate them for putting them into the main stream in the development process.

Results/Recommendations :

· The present study has shown potentialities of sericulture in non-traditional and a drought prone area. To increase its benefits, efforts should be made to popularize drought resistance varieties of mulberry along with location specific technology for maintenance of mulberry plantation

· Supply of quality inputs have to be strengthened. The institutional located, for this purpose should concentrate in qualitative aspect which creates confidence among the new entrants in this area.

· The extension staff need to be thoroughly trained in dealing with region specific problems and situations in mulberry sericulture. This makes them to give effective extension support to the beneficiaries in the area.

· Extension should carry out worm testing in cases of suspected disease.

· Infrastructure for reeling activity should go hand in hand along with expansion of mulberry area, which creates demand for cocoons as well as better price for the cocoons.

· In order to increase the accessibility to market services, introduction of mobile cocoon markets may be thought of. This will reduce the transportation cost incurred by the farmers.

· In order to have substantial of expansion and development of sericulture, credit support should be encouraged and strengthening of supervisory services, will result in proper utilization of credit which helps in creating necessary infrastructure.

· A few instance of credit support to women have resulted in making them self confident increased efforts for effective implementation of credit programme for women should be taken up.

· Programmes like digging up community borewells for weaker sections should include viable number of beneficiaries so as to increase its accessibility for stability and sustainability.

· The existing cooperative society should be revived and the funds should be made available for utilization by the beneficiaries. Institutions like Irrigation Development Corporation, which help in initial stages, should extend their support at least for a period of two or three years so that they can attain an optimum efficiency level.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1993

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture in a tribal area:A case study in Paderu region of Visakapatnam district (Andhra Pradesh).

Personnel :Govinda Raju KV, Venugopal Rao N

Project Period :1993

Objectives :

· To study in what way the sericulture is contributing to the tribal development.

· To study the problems and prospects for development of sericulture in the context of specific agro-economic and socio-cultural environment of the region.

Results/Recommendations :

· The selection of plots for raising plantation should be such that the plots are nearer to a flowing stream and as far as possible accessible for flow (gravity flow) irrigation to the mulberry gardens. Irrigation practices required under such situations should be taught to the beneficiaries.

· Extension activities should be concentrated on “Group camps”. These camps should be arranged in a villages/settlement where beneficiaries could gather.

· The training should concentrate and synchronise with the needs of the changing seasonal conditions.

· As the groups ere exposed for bivoltine seed cocoon crops (at initial stages) introducing bivoltine seed programme in the area, needs emphasis.

· The scale of finance and repayment schedule of loan, may be dovetailed funds for purchase of irrigation equipments may be allocated as a component under “credit for sericulture”. Location specific economics needs to be worked out realistically. This should be used as the basis for studying feasibility and planning credit support.

· Working capital for the reeling unit should be enhanced to avoid delay in payment to beneficiaries (at the market). The rearing unit at Paderu should be strengthened with adequate trained man power, power for running units etc.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1993

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Productivity in sericulture:A study on three cluster in Tamil Nadu.

Personnel :Pugazhendi P

Project Period :1994

Objectives :To examine the types of technology adopted and the level of productivity in sericulture, particularly in the area of

· Mulberry and cocoon production as related to technology

· Factors affecting production.

· Farm employment as related to varying levels of production and

· Cost of cultivation and returns as related to varying levels of production.

Results/Recommendations :

· There is a need for strengthening and consolidating sericulture in low and medium productivity region, even while targeting for further expansion.

· Farmers should be trained in new sericulture technology, disinfection methods, mulberry cultivation methods and water management practices in low and medium productivity regions.

· The rearing sheds are poorly ventilated and mostly unhygienic and climatic conditions are not properly maintained. Number of trays used for rearing are not adequate and the worms are usually practices in low productivity region.

· Adequate attention should be given to credit facilities and credit could be given in the form of inputs wherever possible in low productivity region.

· Package of practices have to be made area specific so that the sericulturists would realize the relevance of the improve practices.

· Intensive training should be given to the farmers in low productivity region.

· Better services should be provided through sericultural cooperative societies for supply of inputs like fertilizer, disinfectants, equipments on hire eg., sprayers and chandrikes etc., at moderate price in low and medium productivity region.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report: 1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Women para extension workers in the extension system: The Karnataka experience.

Personnel :Govinda Raju KV, Vijayalakshmi V, Sudhamani N

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To understand the role of WPEWs in sericultural development and diffusion of technology.

· To assess the impact of WPEWs extension activities in terms of coverage and method of approach used.

· To examine the role of WPEWs in strengthening the extension network and promoting extension activities in particular.

· To explore the prospects of WPEWs from the vantage point of extension and women beneficiaries.

Results/Recommendations :

· The WPEWs covered a wide range of activities. Among them village visits are give top priority.

· The number of villages assigned and the distance they need to travel makes it difficult for them in attending to their assigned activities.

· Silkworm rearing is a continuous activity covering large number of households.

· The major emphasis during the discussion centered round the activities like feeding, leaf quality and preservation, use of disinfectants etc. There seem to have resulted in identification of sericulture households as receivers of information rather than education the members of the households.

· Mulberry gardens are seldom visited during the village visits due to the fact that the number of sericulturist households and distances to be covered are far too large.

· The sericulture awareness level among women is quite substantial. But there are critical knowledge gaps as well as adoption gaps.

· Occasionally WPEWs conduct group meetings. Sometimes, field days are also organized.

· In spite of the efforts of the WPEWs most of the extension messages are not followed because of limited role of women’s decision making in sericulture.

· Training provided to WPEWs is technical nature. The training received by the WPEWs qualifies them technically but seldom equips them with communication skills. In actual field conditions, neither the rearers nor the officials accept them as technically qualified.

· Men engaged in sericulture consider that involving women in extension work is useful and essential.

· The field staff (TSC) view, the WPEWs role in contacting women sericulturists households are useful.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :A study of licensed seed preparers in Karnataka.

Personnel :Govinda Raju KV, Manjula NR

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To study whether the LSPs are able to meet the demands of the sericulturists in time, in terms of quality and quantity.

· To study the problems and prospects of the LSPs in their functioning.

· To study the quality control measures adopted by LSPs, measures for improving it.

· To study the perceptions of the sericulturists regarding the services rendered by the LSPs.

· To suggest measures for improving the working of LSPs at a sustainable level.

Results/Recommendations :

· Imparting of training to family member and casual worker may be considered. There are problems while arranging such training programmes. Modalities may have to be worked out in this regard.

· Efforts should be made to improve the working of the LSP units.

· Government grainages should increase their share in production.

· Separate staff at DOS level, has to be set up for inspecting the LSP units, and enforce strictly to follow the methods for testing the quality of layings.

Source of Information :Completed project report 1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Gender Audit: The contribution of women in sericulture production.

Personnel :Vijayalakshmi V

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To assess the actual labour contribution of women in sericulture (in establishing and maintaining the mulberry garden, rearing of silk worms and silk reeling).

· To examine the extent of women’s participation in relation to farm size, viz., marginal, small, medium and large

· To estimate the value added due to women’s participation of silk worm rearing and reeling.

Results/Recommendations :

· The data show that women’s participation is predominant both as family and wage labour. A more focused and intensive programme needs to be devised for credit, training and extension to women. Also special efforts should be made to involve women in training and extension.

· Women’s activities are generally confined to tasks which are considered as involving less skill and which are monotonous and arduous. To make their participation more productive women should be made tht target group for a reorientation programme by various agencies. This will enable to integrate them into the decision making process within the household.

· Since the participation rate of women is substantial in various sericulture activities, efforts should be made to disseminate this information through pamphlets and poster which are region specific. This makes the women aware of their contribution as family/wage labour.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Cooperative and sericulture development in Tamil Nadu.

Personnel :Saraswathi G, Partahsarathy VS

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To study the functioning of sericulture cooperative societies in Tamil Nadu.

· To study the reasons responsible for the non-functioning of cooperatives and measure to be taken for their normal function which refers to women cooperatives.

· To study the advantages and disadvantages of cooperative societies in sericultural industry.

· The nature of cooperatives operated by women in relation to the activities like chawki rearing, reeling, twisting etc.

· To understand the extent to which such cooperatives aid the development of sericultural industry as a whole.

Results/Recommendations :

· Accounts need to be properly maintained as per the proforma supplied.

· Labourers should be adequately trained to attain productivity standards.

· Silk reeling and twisting are technical jobs, which need constant supervision and monitoring. A supervisor exclusively to monitor cocoon utility, silk produced and its quality maintenance has to be appointed. He should be accountable for the lapses in productivity.

· DOS should monitor the production and productivity on weekly or monthly basis. This may be done by the district level officers (Ads) or DOS and guidelines should be given regularly.

· Purchase of cocoons from nearby cocoon markets irrespective of state should be encouraged.

· Every cooperative society must get silk news flash to CSB to know the trends of market rates. This will enable the officers to be more vigilant in their transactions.

· Productivity standards of norms as given should be followed and cost conscious corrections taken through regular monitoring.

· Attempts should be made to run the cooperatives as company.

· Attempts should be made to develop leadership qualities among the members.

· The chawki rearing cooperatives should demonstrate high yield, develop confidence among the members. It should also maintain records accounting number of dfls brushed, cost of dfls, number of farmers, leaf quantity utilized, cost of disinfection, labour number and wage etc.

· There should not be frequent transfers of the special officers, as they loose interest, personal attention which will lead to lack of care and supervision.

Source of Information :Completed project report 1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Organising and unorganising gender analysis of women in sericulture households.

Personnel :Anand Inbanathan, Vijayalakshmi V

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To study the impact of group membership on effective participation of women in sericulture.

· To see if group activity has any impact on gender issues.

· To develop profiles of gender activity within sericulture households.

· To study gender patterns of access to various productive resources such as land and credit.

· To analyse patterns of control over production and income and decision making within the house hold.

Results/Recommendations :

· The time contribution of women to income generating activities like sericulture, agriculture and beedi rolling is more compared to men.

· The group formation has partially succeeded in increasing awareness about the correct sericulture practices.

· The group is successful in generating finances through renting of chandrike.

· No effort is taken by the group to bring gender concerns to the attention of the government.

· Though there is solidarity the group lacks proper guidance. In the absence of guidance and initiative they are not able to organize rural development and women development programmes.

· Traditional attitudes and beliefs, regarding pollution and gender role of women still continue.

· As there is no one to sensitize them to gender concerns it is important to have a women development officer to guides the issues related to women.

· The women’s group may benefit through association with an NGO which is working on gender related issues, though care is needed in the selection of the NGO.

· Attention needs to be given to increasing cocoon yield and adopting better sericulture practices. Interested group members should be motivated and taught to train others. They will be working in coordination with the extension staff in bringing to their attention the problems of the sericulturists.

· Credit should be given to them in small instalments and they should be trained to make a profitable use of it.

· ‘Group loan’ schemes should be introduced if the members provide guarantee for each other, thus ensuring better repayment.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :NGOs and sericulture development: A case study of Tamil Nadu.

Personnel :Pathasarathy VS, Gregory S

Project Period :1994

Objectives :To examine the extent to which the NGOs have fulfilled the objectives of the NSP as envisaged in the programme.

To identify the success and failure cases of NGOs involved in the programme and examine the reasons for the same and to suggest measures to make the NGO involvement to achieve the objectives of the programme.

To understand the problems involved in the process of implementation of programmes as perceived or experienced by different participants of the programme.

Results/Recommendations :

· Selection play a crucial role in the success of the program. The NGO should be evaluated regarding the availability of infrastructure, its committment to this enterprise and technical competence before their proposal and approved. Many NGOs seem neither to have infrastructure nor the personnel who can be committed to this programme. Most of the NGOs do not have any understanding of the complexities of sericulture enterprise and the risk factor involved in it.

· Since the NSP grants only a portion of the money, it is necessary that the DOS should ensure the financial soundness of the organization and its willingness to invest in this endeavour, without raising problems later.

· Reeling which has a long gestation period, should not be entrusted to the NGOs, unless the NGO is aware of the risks involved and in spite of this would like to undertake the enterprise to help the weaker section and women.

· The monitoring mechanism should be made simple and effective. In fact, it is advisable to have periodical evaluation by an expert committee in place of progress reports.

· NGO personnel have to be trained by DOS once they are accorded sanction of a programme.

· Greater autonomy should be given to the NGOs in the implementation of the programme, and the only concern of the DOS should be to ensure fulfillment of the objectives of the NSP.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994.

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :NGOs and Sericulture development: A case study of Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Parthasarathy VS, Sundravalli

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To help under privileged attain economic stability.

· To promote the participation of women.

· To undertake training

· To introduce improved package of practices.

Results/Recommendations :

· An analysis of the data on 19 NGOs reveals that these NGOs are involved in mulberry planting, silkworm rearing, establishment of chawki rearing centres and training. In only 10 cases are there any signs of competition of the programme or continuation of the program. In 7 cases the sericulture programme has been abandoned. In 1 case, the programme started recently and in another case, it is yet to start.

· Out of 7 NGOs who have undertaken the mulberry nursery programme, 4 have completed and 3 others have discontinued or are not successful of the 13 NGOs which have taken up the chawki rearing centres project, the programme has been completed in 3 cases, it is under implementation in 4 cases and in the remaining 6 cases, it has been discontinued. The TTC programme was taken up by 7 NG)s which 2 have completed the programme, 2 are implementing it, 2 have discontinued and in one case the programme is yet to start. The development of model demonstration plot was taken up by one NGO and it has been discontinued. The rehabilitation of 20 women after training is under implementation in one of the NGOs which is facing a lot of problems.

· Importantly, NGOs have not been able to develop rapport with the DOS which is attuned to the progress report culture.

· With the fluctuation in prices, the NGOs are in a dilemma about making the programme a viable one. In addition, the users of CRCs, invariably expect the NGOs to allow the use of CRCs free of cost.

· There is need for proper evaluation of the NGO in terms of infrastructure, resources, before sanctioning the project.

· There is need to establish greater rapport between the DOS and the NGOs.

· Some attention needs to be given regarding providing administration costs.

· NGO personnel have to be trained by the DOS once they are accorded sanction of a programme.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Gender planning: an interphase of women and sericulture development – A study in Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Vijayalakshmi V, Venkata Narasaiah, Narasimhaiah K

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To study the socio-economic and cultural background of the sericulture households.

· To analyse the gender roles, division of labour and decision making in sericulture household.

· To examine the participation of women in sericulture.

· To study the women access to productive resources.

· To assess the role of NGOs in women and sericulture development.

Results/Recommendations :Inspite of the weaknesses, the NGOs play a positive role in women and sericulture development through their effort in making the more productive use of the resource women have. For this the NGO not only should be gender sensitive but also have an understanding of the programmes it is initiating in order to serve the women in a better way. They should have technical as well as field level personnel who are aware of the sericulture practices and latest technology to guide the beneficiaries.

The departments should come out of their rigid bureaucratic structures and help the NGOs in the technical aspects. The NGOs as well as the policy makers and administrators should realize that to achieve success in a complex programme of incorporating women into the sericulture main stream, every one should be an active facilitator.

Moreover, the NGOs should not have programmes which funds a few beneficiaries, there should be a uniform programme for all and it should aim at sustainable development among women. Financing rearing sheds and equipments for a handful will develop disinterest towards the programme among others and does not help in maintaining healthy human relations.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Privatisation of chawki rearing centres in Karnataka.

Personnel :Acharya J, Gayathri Devi KG, Krishnappa BL and all BA team members

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To assess whether privatization of CRCs serves as a viable alternative to the earlier system.

· To assess what extent silkworms are reared to the ultimate objective of the formation of CRCs.

· To assess whether there are any serious problems and bottlenecks in the process of privatisation.

· To assess whether there are any better alternatives available or that could be evolved.

Results/Recommendations :

· The entrepreneurs feel that the transitory assiatnace is not enough and will not cover the cost of rearing incurred in case they have to meet the stipulated target.

· The stipulated target of brushing was on a higher side, which could not be fulfilled because the lack of local demand for chawki worms by the sericulturists.

· As far as the working of the CRC is considered, no CRC is completely successful in the sense that the farmers for all their total crops in a year is using only chawki from there.

· Given a choice the users would always prefer to supply their own leaf since complete acceptance of the quality of leaf provided by the owner by largely lacking.

· For those owners who have realized the importance of improved technology they suffer from the problem of lack of awareness among the fellow sericulturists to the some extent.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Problems and prospects of licensed seed preparers in Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel :Govinda Raju KV, Doraiswamy R

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To study the organization infrastructure facilities of LSPs.

· To study whether they able to meet the demands of the sericulturists in time, in terms of quality and quantity.

· To study the problems and prospects of the LSPs in its functioning.

· To study the quality control measures adopted by LSPs, measures for improving it.

· To study the perceptions of the sericulturists regarding the services rendered by the LSPs.

· To suggest measures for improving the working of LSPs at a sustainable level.

Results/Recommendations :

· Preference may be given to an enterpreneur who is residing in the intended location of units while opening new units.

· Flexibility in phasing out the investment on fixed items should be phased in relation to the progress achieved by different units.

· They should develop their own self maintained farms and rear parent seed cocoons to meet their requirements.

· Inspection of units by DOS technical staff for ensuring prescribed procedures in seed production.

· For upgrading the technical competence of workers in the refresher course is needed. Imparting training of daily wage workers is necessary.

· Separate agency may be set up for inspecting quality of production before they are issued to the rearers.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Flow of credit to sericulture development – A case study of two clusters.

Personnel : Govindaraju KV, Parameswarappa KJ

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To analyze the extent of on-farm credit flow to sericulture from various credit institutions.

· To understand the credit accessability to farmers, their problems, perceptions and priorities among various agencies.

· To know the reasons for poor recovery rate.

· To understand the perceptions of different lending agencies about sericulture.

Results/Recommendations :

· Procuring the required documents for credit application is cumbersome for the beneficiaries who are often illiterate and semi-literate. As it is impossible to do away with the records evolving simplified way of processing the credit worthiness will go a long way in bettering the credit scene.

· The role of technology in harvesting good crop need not be stressed. Technological level of sericulture influences greatly the repayment capacity of a farmer. Thus, to improve credit flow, it is very important to raise the technological level of farming.

· Steps should be taken to motivate the bankers to land credit to sericulture on priority basis. Effective campaigning can be taken up to expose the bankers about the advantages in sericultural lending.

· Regular meetings can be arranged between the DOS and bank officials to ascertain the status of applications sponsored and at the same time they can take stock of recovery scene.

· Steps should be taken to educate the farming community regarding the need for keeping their land records properly. Mass communication medias like Radio and T.V. can be made use of.

· At the macro level state government can be requested to initiate issuing pass books to farmers which contains complete details of land holding.

· Many farmers felt the need for working capital for sericulture. So short term credit on par with the crop loans can be introduced to sericulture.

· System of ‘Group Credit’ can be thought of.

· Refinancing adequately the co-operatives would help greatly mobilizing the credit in sericulture.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Status of post cocoon technology in West Bengal–study of reelers of Kaliachak.

Personnel :Subrata Das, Sunil Sarkar, Sen P

Project Period :1995

Objectives :To investigate the present status of the post cocoon technology, analyze the factors responsible for continuation of the present conditions and suggest viable alternatives for increasing production of quality silk yarn.

Results/Recommendations :

· The state DOS and CSB should ensure institutional credit as working capital for the reelers. This will help reelers to procure quality silk cocoons in sufficient quantity.

Ø The R & D sections of DOS and CSB should provide suitable and cost-effective improved technology to the reelers.

Ø Supply of quality cocoon should be ensured.

Ø There should be arrangement for extension services in terms of training and supervision.

Ø Arrangement should be made for organized silk yarn market.

· There should be arrangements for regular interactions between reelers and weavers to ascertain the weaver’s needs.

· If DOS takes effective steps in these directions and motivate the reelers there is no reason why the reelers of the state can not produce quality yarn in large quantity.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1996

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture and Health: Rearing Reeling and working in grainages.

Personnel : Anand Inbanathan, Om prakash, Sudharam N, Lokesh CA, Saraswathi G.

Project Period :1995

Objectives :To study the situation of reeling and grainage workers

Results/Recommendations :

· A substantial number of sericulture workers suffer from occupational asthma, following an allergic reaction to silk allergene.

· Occupational rhinitis was also noticed in some workers and allergene to silk allergens a hitherto unknown fact.

· Medication for the affected was irregular in most of the worker, and was related to their economic situation. However, there is a need for continuous medications once asthma set in.

· Some of these with asthma took cortico-steroid for an extensive period, resulting in substantial side effects from continuous use.

· The general level of ignorance about the dangers associated with either low/irregular medication as well as taking cortico streroids for extended periods of time is considerable concern.

· Dr.Mukesh Ramnane skin specialist from st. Martha’s hospital observed pitted keratolysis and fungal infection among reeling labourers, related to constant wetting of ointment by reeling unit owner (which we could not identify) for the skin condition and they claimed the ointment had some positive effect.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Problems and prospects of silk yarn market in Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel : Vijayalakshmi V, Sreenatha DV

Project Period :1995

Objectives :

· To understand the organized and unorganized sectors of silk yarn market.

· To identify the various trade links in the silk yarn market.

· Examine the functioning of cooperatives and its role in strengthening the organized sector.

· Study the problems and perceptions of different sections of the silk yarn market.

· Examine the possible intervention required in policy and structure.

Results/Recommendations :

· Paying competitive prices to the farmers encourages them to sell the cocoons in the Government cocoon market within the state.

· Demand should be created for the cocoons by strengthening the reeling sector.

· ‘Pledging system’ which enables the reelers to wait till they get satisfactory returns should be introduced. At present the reelers do not have any choice at SERIFED except to trade their produce even when the prices are low.

· Reelers co-operatives should be revitalized to enable the interested members to participate in cooperative reeling.

· Reelers should be given adequate incentives to motivate them to trade through SERIFED.

· Training and Extension should be given more attention. This will increase the productivity and the reeler will get proper returns for his investment.

· The department should conduct a week long awareness programme on the functioning and benefits of cooperative weaving. The weavers should be told their rights and responsibilities as cooperative members. An exhibition should be conducted on the cooperatives to create interest among the weavers.

· To ensure that the members share capital is paid by the weaver himself, the procedure for filing papers for membership and paying the required amount should be carried out through a Bank.

· The department officials should verify participation of cash and every member and take necessary steps to ensure that the profits are shared with them.

· Quality standards should be maintained at SERIFED ‘Oil mixed’ yarn should not be allowed to b e transacted through SERIFED.

· As SERIFED and the SWCs are under the department of sericulture, the total yarn requirement of SWCs should be catered only be SERIFED. This not only increases the sales at SERIFED but also stabilizes its position to a considerable extent.

· Awareness about the retail sales of SERIFED should be spread among the consumers.

Source of Information :Competed Project Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Local race silkworm seed cocoon production in Tamil Nadu: A study of two clusters in Denkanikotai seed area.

Personnel :Govindaraju KV, Doraiswamy R

Project Period :1995

Objectives :

· To study the level of participation of farmers in the sericultural activities & their accountability to resources.

· To study the infrastructure base of DOS & its accessibility.

· To study the perception of farmers to the technology.

· To study the factors that contributes to make the programme more acceptable to farmers.

Results/Recommendations :

· Improved practices advocated by the extension should include alternatives or substitutes to meet the inadequacy of essential inputs.

· The mulberry plots in the seed area needs soil testing.

· Package of practices have to be made area specific so that farmers recognize the relevance of the improved practices.

· There is a need for specific training to extension staff to tackle the problem of seed growers. He needs adequate reorientation training applicable to seed area.

· Seed area villages, are more homogenous both in terms of production conditions, as well as social characteristics, there is more scope for effective performance. A “model seed village” programme may be initiated by giving intensive extension support.

· As the area is compact, the female extension staff may be appointed to look into the needs of women sericulturists.

· The farmers training programme should include “Landless people” who can be imparted with rearing skills.

· Farmers should be given proper orientation training such that they realize and appreciate the importance of ventilation, leaf quality, use of disinfectants.

· In each cluster of villages, regular group discussion should be organized by the extension staff, where the experience of all farmers could be shared among other sections of the farmers. This method would prove to be highly effective for all the farmers.

· Pamphlets, posters depicting the seed area activities linkages with grainages including its activities should be displayed in the seed area villages. Film shows, TV, specific to seed area should become a major vehicle of communication.

· As an incentive to the sericulturists in the seed area disinfection services, should be provided by the DOS, sericulturists expect some free services, as a ‘seed rearers’.

· The existing van facilities provided for lifting of seed cocoons from the villages should be ensured. In addition to the collection van charges, ‘service charges’ may be collected should be utilized for providing services to the seed area villages.

· Separate sales counter, with all sericultural inputs, should be set up.

· All seed rearers should be compulsorily made to purchase atleast a minimum of 20 mountages. The cost on this may be given as loan through banks, which may be recovered from the value from the sale of cocoons. The recovery can be done in instalments.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture in new areas of Tamil Nadu.

Personnel : Pugazhendi P, Saraswathi G

Project Period :1995

Objectives :To find out the major cropping pattern in the new areas and the rationale of different categories of farmers marginal, small, medium and large for their performance for different crops.

Results/Recommendations :

· Special attention should be given to the new sericulturists for gaining their trust and resorting their confidence.

· Extension resources should be strengthened and streamline in Madurai and Nellai areas.

· Proper training should be given to serciulturist as well as gross root level staffs especially in Madurai and Nellai areas.

· Intensive efforts should be made by the DOS for the establishment of reeling units in the study area.

· Farmers should be motivated by the grass root level officers and arrange group discussions across with farmers to share their sericulture experience once on 30 years or every crops.

· Extension staff should have frequent touch with sericulture especially in Madurai and Nellai areas.

· DOS should concentrate only limited pockets where atleast partial irrigation facilities are available.

· Underwent scarcity condition most farmers have uprooted mulberry and gone in for short duration crops. The strategy should be propagate the exclusively drought resistance varieties.

· There is a need for strengthening and consolidating sericulture in the existing area (Western ghat) under mulberry even while targeting for further expansion.

Source of Information : Project Completion Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Women and sericulture: Silkworm rearing by hill women of Kalimpong, West Bengal.

Personnel : Sunil Kumar Sarkar, Sen P

Project Period :1995

Objectives : To examine the role of status of women in sericulture in the hilly region of Kalimpong their problems and prospects.

Results/Recommendations :

· The feasibility of development of suitable commercial zone in the foot hill with a view to make use of April-May crop (Bivoltine cocoon) for CB layings.

· The possibility of marketing April-May seed crop in other states having matching seasons for CB layings should be explored.

· Arrangement should be made for immediate payment of sale value (of the cocoon) to the women rearers to sustain their motivation.

· The women development officer, DOS should provide active support to build up groups among the women rearers. The promotion of group building activity, it is hoped would increase their level of consciousness facilitate sharing of views, decision making power and attitude of self-reliance and self help.

· Institutional credit should be arranged to strengthen their rearing infrastructure.

· It is strongly felt that Kalimpong has a good potentiality as bivoltine seed zone and will substantially meet the seed requirement for CB layings of the state. As women are the major custodian for the silkworm rearing, their development is in extricably linked up with the development of the seed zone as a whole .

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report: 1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Bivoltine seed cocoon production programme in Andhra Pradesh: A study of four cluster in bivoltine - in seed area, Ananthapur District.

Personnel : Govindaraju KV, Sundaravalli

Project Period :1995

Objectives : To study on:

· Improving the infrastructure for mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing.

· Provision for providing inputs, extension services.

· Crop Insurance.

· Market facility.

· Bonus amount for the rejected cocoons.

Results/Recommendations :

· The selection of farmers who satisfy the worms prescribed should be strictly followed. The ‘budget based’ programme needs revision.

· Smaller area should be identified to be assisted with adequate extension staff and TSC. Separate TSCs should be formed which should act as nodal centres for “Information Exchange”. This facilitates extension coverage and allows to take up problem solving strategies along with timely supply of inputs credit etc.

· Equipments like trays, mountages should be distributed initially to all identified rearers.

· Insurance coverage for crop loss is necessary. The amount of compensation is far below the cost incurred. There is a need for enhancing the same.

· Identified sericulturists should be given training specific to bivoltine rearing. This should be organized at the village level.

· For credit recovery, market tie up can be arranged as the seed cocoons (output) has to be transacted through villages to market.

· Transport facilities for lifting seed cocoons, from villages to market has to be provided. A nominal fee of Rs.1/- per kg may be charged.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995.

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Productivity in sericulture : Case studies of Tumbadi Village, Tumkur District and Varahally Village, Mysore.

Personnel :Anand Inbanathan, Parathasarthy VS, Bhagyalakshmi TA, Gowramma HY.

Project Period :1995

Objectives :

· To highlight the contribution of technology adopted in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing in improving productivity.

· To understand the role of socio-economic status of sericulturists in productivity and the sociological factors involve in it.

· To examine the marketing and credit facilities available.

Results/Recommendations :

· Irrigation is the most important factors to improve the productivity of the sericulturists. While it is not always possible for sericulturists to drill borewells in their own land a schemed which may be considered is to ‘organize several sericulturists living within a particular area to have one borewell for their join use. The cost of drilling may partly be met through a contribution from the farmers and to partly met through loans, or grants from the government or other agencies.

· Soil testing should be regularly done, and soil testing units should be established in a nearby area, which would also need to produce the results in a short time. Farmers may be encouraged to get their soil tested by providing quicker results.

· Extension officials should impress on the farmers the negative long term impact of indiscriminately using any fertilizer that they fancy and that the farmers should not consider only the short term benefits but also the long term effects on their land.

· Latest sericulture technology and techniques rarely reach the farmers in both Varahally and Trembadi progressively and relatively large farmers may have access to the latest techniques of cultivation and rearing extension official vey of ten concentrate on these farmers. However, the major problem is to increase the productivity of poor farmers. Extension officials would need to spend more time and effort in tailoring their advice and recommendations to suit each farmer, rather than give blanket instruction for the whole group.

· Sericulturists themselves suggest that a monthly meeting of extension officials and local farmers will help in identifying problem and finding solutions.

· With the confidence in government grainages rather low in these two areas, measures may be taken to improve the functioning of the grainages to encourage farmers to buy eggs from them.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Sericulture in new areas of Karnataka: A case study of Gulbarga District.

Personnel : Maruthi J, Parameswarappa KJ

Project Period :1995

Objectives :

· To understand the importance accorded by the new area farmers and their perception about sericulture.

· To examine the problems faced by the new area farmers in practicing sericulture.

· To explore the reasons for uprooting of mulberry.

· To study the perception of non-sericulturists about sericulture.

Results/Recommendations :

· The analysis shows that sericulture in the study area seems to be passing through a critical phase. Many farmers are opting out of sericulture due to various factors, including water scarcity, low and fluctuating prices, crop failure and poor yields. The major causes responsible for poor yield are poor management of mulberry gardens and poor rearing infrastructure.

· The analysis also revealed that sericulture is thriving mostly with small and medium farmers. For large farmers, relatively large land holding size inability to cope with the rearing seems to be the additional deterrants with the factor mentioned earlier.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Silk yarn market: A Case study in Tamil Nadu.

Personnel : Vijayalakshmi V, Anil kumar S

Project Period :1995

Objectives :

· To understand the organized and unorganized sectors of silkyarn market.

· To analyze the credit structure prevalent in the unorganized sectors of the silk yarn market.

· To examine the role of co-operation in strengthening the organized sector.

· To study the consumer perceptions and preferences.

Results/Recommendations :

Tansilk

· The activities of TANSILK is limited, though it works as a service cooperative, its area and activities need to be expanded to cater to the increasing demand.

· So far TANSILK has not worked out to open a retail sales counter to compete with local counter parts and to expand the scope. It is suggestible to have if separately and given wider publicity.

· A strict regulation should be followed to give importance to the quality of silk authorities at government reeling and twisting units needs to be warmed about stained silk.

Anna silk exchange.

· There is an urgent need for the DOS to look into the existing price structure of the cocoon and yarn market and regulate the price fluctuation by “price fixing” mechanism to create the yarn infiltration and cocoon outflow.

· There should be minimum price difference for the charkha super fine charkha and basin silk. These should be considerable rate difference of Rs.50/- per kg for finer denier in the tested lots.

· The reeling centres of Tamil Nadu should be monitored by the DOS. The concerned ADS should send all the revised list of reeling device from time to time. The personnel in ASE should have the reelers list and their reeling capacity. So that, they can assess whether that particular reeler can real that particular lot within that stipulated time.

Silk weaver’s co-operative societies

· Quality and quantity go hand in hand only of both are carefully and proportionally limited. The increase is unlimited number of membership is affecting the system of operation. This can be overcome by limiting the membership. There should be more co-operative at village level.

· There is a hue and cry from the weavers that they were denied membership for unknown reasons. Such applications shall be pursued for new membership.

· At present 50% of the Kanchipuram weavers are spread over the village. When started, the co-operative membership was restricted to 7 kms radius around Kanchipuram. But now this need to be amended and reconsidered to a minimum of 25 Kms. radius to include the spread over looms in the villages.

· While deciding the new membership preference should to be given to household weavers with limited number of looms than a wage weavers working on a rented loom.

· The present trend of politically motivated SWISS should be effectively changed into weavers welfare co-operative societies.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Going places with sericulture :Experiences compared (Traditional states and the pilot states).

Personnel : Parameswarappa KJ

Project Period :1996

Objectives :

· To increase the productivity of sericulture activity and also improve the quality of silk yarn.

· To provide income and employment to a large number of persons i.e., sericulture was projected as an anti-poverty programme.

Results/Recommendations : In pilot states and among sericulturists there is apparently a lack of recognition that garden maintenance has a considerable impact on the yield, and that appropriate measures to improve the quality and quantity of mulberry leaves have to be taken to ensure a higher yield of cocoons, There is therefore need to spread improved cultivation practices among farmers of the pilot states.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1996

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Irrigational practices in Mulberry cultivation: A study in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Personnel :Karanth GK, Gayathri Devi KG

Funding Details :SDC

Project Period :1997-1998

Objectives : To understand the practices of irrigation for mulberry.

Results/Recommendations :

· It is found that the farmers have not adopted any method of water management and conservation. Their awareness about agronomic practices of water conservation seems to be very low. Even those who are aware do not put that into practice. The gardens are abandoned particularly during summer without any agronomic practices. Efforts should be made to create awareness and adoption of agronomic practices among farmers.

· Indiscriminate digging and sinking of open and borewells by farmers needs to be checked. Existing legislation giving sufficient space between borewells has to be stringently followed.

· There is a need to desitt the tanks regularly and to protect the tanks water catchment area. Enroachment of tank bed areas for agricultural purpose must be checked.

· Training programmes and demonstrations should be organized to express the male/female sericulturists to the adoption of new technology and related aspects.

· Greater emphasis must be placed on educating the sericulutrists about the uses of drip irrigation method.

· Its advantages take simple technology water saving capacity, lesser scope for growth of needs lesser intake of chemical fertilizers etc. needs to be impressed upon the farmers.

· There is also a need for the training camps to be region specific and beneficianl to all categories of sericulturists to enable them to adopt the modern techniques which are advocated.

Source of Information :Project Completion Report:1998

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Dyeing sector in silk industry, Andhra Pradesh.

Personnel : Karanth GK, Saraswathi G, Gayathri Devi KG, Manjula NR, Pushparani P

Project Period :1997-1998

Objectives : To understand the problems of dyeing sector in Andhra Pradesh.

Results/Recommendations :

· Upgradation of the technology and modifications should meet the production conditions as well as the priorities of the dyers in silk industry. Sufficient attention needs to be given for the improvement of quality dyeing and technology upgraded should suit the economic condition of the small entrepreneurs in the silk dyeing industry.

· An awareness campaign is also necessary amongst the clientale (master weavers/traders/independent weavers/co-operatives) about the use of non-azo dyes and standard quality dyes, to maintain the quality and demand of the fabric produced by them, which in turn creates an awareness among the dyers.

· Technological upgradation should be eco-friendly, such as a change over the use of fuel like fire wood, which causes deforestation. The adoption of chemical dyes is hazardous to the environment and health of the users or labourers involved in it. Thus any innovation or adoption of a new technology in dyeing needs to tested and re-tested for being user eco-friendly in all respects.

· R&D efforts in dyeing industry should be sensitive to the difference in the scale of operation of the units.

· The acquisition of skill and development of the industry as a whole is possible only through systematic extension services.

· It is necessary that attention is given to the problem faced by the silk dyeing industry particularly with respect to availability of water and other inputs such as fuel. If there is adequate supply of water by the municipal authorities, it enhances the quality of dyeing therefore the use of sufficient water.

· There seem to be a lack of concern regarding the dangers posed by the discharge of effluents by the dyeing units. Awareness of environment safety measures, which are absent should be created amongst the people engaged in the dyeing sector and various civic bodies.

· A policy of registering all the dyeing units solely for ensuring environment friendly technology needs to be evolved. The experience of those engaged in cotton textiles and other industries and the reasons, which resulted in their closure should not be allowed to occur in dyeing.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1998

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Dyeing Sector in silk industry: Tamil Nadu.

Personnel :Karanth G, Saraswathi G, Gayatri Devi KG, Chandrashekhar E, Manjula NR

Funding Details : Swiss Agency for Development cooperation

Project Period :1998

Objectives : To understand the problems of dyeing sector in Tamil Nadu.

Results/Recommendations :There is a close relationship between the size of the unit and the rate of return/profit in the dyeing sector as well. However, not all small units are in a position to expand their business. Over the years what seems to be occurring is proliferation of small scale units rather than emergence of large units profile. Not withstanding, unit owners do not seem to be willing to silk expansion. The lack of availability of building premise, composition from other business and increasing cost of labour are also retarding factors. Investment from outside particularly in large dyeing units is also hard to come by because investment in other fields is more lucrative than in dyeing one of the most difficult tasks for new entrant to find premises in the heart of the locality where the business is concentrated. The rent is so high that the premises take up a major portion of his investment. Finally what seems to be a matter of worry is the low rate of returns to the small dyers considering that nearly 60% of the dyeing units use of small scale, an average of Rs.93.703/year as profit seems to rather low. Moreover, this figure of 93,703 does not take into account several others hidden costs incurred by the household based enterprises. It is for these reasons that there is a strong case for special attention to develop the dyeing sector in Tamil Nadu.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1998

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Health and Sericulture: A sociological and medical analysis.

Personnel :Anand Inbanathan, Omprakash, Gopalappa DV, Gouramma HY, Tharamurthi D, Shobha MV

Project Period :1998

Objectives : To study the health hazards of the reeling and grainage workers, who are prone to occupation related health hazards with a view of understanding and suggesting measures of controlling such problems.

Results/Recommendations :

· Address the paucity of scientifically arrived knowledge about sericulture and health.

· Analyze the possibility of the health hazards being linked the existing technology in practice.

· Assist in designing a strategy to reduce the general level of ignorance about health aspect and sericulture as well as improve them control among the reeling and grainage workers.

· Comprising a data base, of reeling labourers reeling unit of owners and workers in grainages. This includes social and clinical indicators.

· Preparation of status papers based on primary and secondary data.

· Suggestions for further designing of action plans in the identified area basd on the above.

· Two broad options are available in controlling the health problems to workers in reeling units and grainages: One is to improve the environmental conditions, reduce smoke, dust etc. through improved ventilations etc. and the second option is to direct remedial measures at the workers themselves.

· One of the most significant advances in the management of asthama in general has been the availability of inhaled steroids (namely Beclomethasone, Budesamide and more recently Flucticosome). Inhaled steroids can cause reduction in asthama with minimal side effects.

· It is felt that the higher prevalence of TB needs to be looked into in greater defined with epidemiologically controlled data documentation periodic population.

· In conclusion, the data obtained from this staff denote that there is substantial morbidity due to asthama in silk workers. The prevailing socio-economic conditions do not seem to favour environmental manipulations as the major alleviating factor. It would appear that perhaps anti inflammatory drugs such as inhaled steroids to the asthama subjects may be the viable option to mitigate the suffering as well as minimize side effects due to steroids.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1998

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Child labour in silk industry: Myth and reality

Personnel :Karanth GK, Vijayalakshmi

Project Period :1998

Objectives : To understand the problems of child labour and to suggest suitable remedies.

Results/Recommendations :

· The forced labour should be construed as not just physical but also arising out of economic compulsions that makes a child/family render labour not in accordance to legal norms.

· Even if the financial arrangement of the child laborer with the employer may appear technically correct but if the child worker has the only option of either paying back the advance she/he has taken or continue to work less or no remuneration it should considered bonded labour.

· The burden of proof he/she has not employed child labour should rest with the employer. This is specified for bonded labour act.

· National child labour survey should be conducted with fresh guidelines and no effort should be made to understand the problem.

· Implementation of the child labour act: The definitions of child labour should include all the children below 14 years who are not attending school. This should also include children working in the household enterprises or under the supervision of the family members.

· The burden of proof of date of birth and age should be on the employer and not on the labour inspector. There should be periodic reviews of the decisions taken by the labour officials.

· It should be made mandatory for the employer to maintain a register of date of birth and employment of the young workers, based on the birth certificate from a competent authority.

· A child labour impact assessment should be mandatory for the clearance of all development aid projects, so that they do not unintentionally create situations, which worsen the state of children.

· Financial institutions, which extend credit facilities to establish or run reeling twisting and weaving units, should also play a key role in achieving the goal of eliminating child labour. The employers are more likely to be influenced by them than the officials of the labour department or the factory inspectorate.

· Start vocational schools in areas of child labour concentration.

· Promote cooperative ventures among adult workers in the three sectors eg., micro finance groups, income generating activities etc.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1998

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :All that Glitters---- The dyeing sector in sericulture.

Personnel :Karanth GK and members of the research team

Project Period :1998

Objectives :To understand the social and economic processes involved in the sector, and to make suitable recommendations, for its overall development.

Results/Recommendations :

· The research that may be going on textile sector, particularly with respect to yarn or fabric dyeing does not seem to be benefiting the dyeing sector in silk industry. The reasons for such lack of flow of information seem to be the essential informal character of the industry on the one hand and their being scattered in different parts of the state (or country). Having been largely ignored, the dyeing sector in silk industry needs to be rediscovered for the purposes of dissemination of advanced scientific knowledge and creation of awareness. Such dissemination would facilitate modernization of the industry within reasonable limits and creation of profits for the workers engaged in it as well as enhancing the competence of silk industry in a tough competitive market.

· Development of dyeing industry is hampered by a serious lack of transparency in its transactions. Considerable threat is perceived to their business from the existing legal machinery governing the silk industry, although the dyers have no part in it. While not undermining the importance of keeping track of the movement of silk in the other sectors of sericulture, the dyeing sector needs to be freed from such regulations. This suggestion is being made mainly with a view to make the sector more transparent. In the absence of such a transparency, that too in an informal sector, efforts to develop the industry will remain a futile exercise.

· It is necessary that attention is given to the problem faced by the silk dyeing industry particularly with respect to availability of water and other inputs such as fuel. Wherever possible the concerned agencies of the state has to prevail upon municipal authorities for adequate supply of water which helps in reducing the problems in this regard as well as enhance the quality of dyeing by the use of soft water. Likewise measures are needed to be taken for supply of kerosene and diesel at competitive rates for this segment of silk industry through appropriate agencies.

· There is an urgent need to recognize dyeing as viable enterprise and suitable recommendations to be made to the lending institutions that come under the public sector commercial banking. While making plans for credit scheme under the urban informal sector or unorganized sector development programmes, the dyeing sector should also be given its due share.

· There seem to be a lack of concern regarding the dangers posed by the discharge of effluents by the dyeing units. Awareness of environmental safely measures is almost absent for the present both on the part of the people engaged in the dyeing sector, and various civic bodies. There is a need for popularizing the cost effective.

· Waste water treatment

· Use of hand-gloves and rubber shoes

· Passage for smoke and proper ventilation

· Safe working conditions.

· There is an urgent need to create awareness on the part of the people handling chemical dye stuff. Indiscriminate handling of these are alleged to be carcinogenic. While the industry makes the distinction in using certain chemicals when meant for export purposes, there is a similar concern when meant for domestic market.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1998

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Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :The dyeing sector in silk industry: An interstate Comparison.

Personnel :ISEC team members

Project Period :1998

Objectives :

· To prepare a sociological profile of the sector the people engaged in the dyeing industry, the means of skill upgradation, the technology used and to know the sector meets the needs of the weavers in rendering their services to the customers.

· To examine the exchange in technology over a period in the silk dyeing sector and to identify the corresponding changes in the silk weaving industry (Handloom/Power loom). The objective is also to examine the receptiveness of the dyeing sector to the changing demands made upon it by the silk industry at large.

· To examine the nature of production relations with in the dyeing industry and their relation with other sectors in the silk industry, and their relation with other sectors in the silk industry, to look at the labour availability, skill development and living conditions of the workers.

· To study the economics of performance of the dyeing industry with a view to assess profitability for those engaged in it.

· To indicate the actual and perceived health hazards due to dyeing and its impact upon the surrounding environment.

· To examine how the informal dyeing sector is different from the formal in all its aspects.

· The variations in technology, consumption, production, size of the unit, waste/loss involved, interpersonal relations between the client and dyes, profitability, etc., are to be assessed across three states.

· To know how efficiently or effectively the dyeing sector water to the needs of the weaving sector.

Results/Recommendations :

· R&D efforts/Technology should reach the dyeing industry.

· Dyeing industry should be considered as small scale industrial unit.

· Dyeing material sales outlets should be open.

· Recognize dyeing as viable enterprise and programs of entrepreneurial development are to be undertaken.

· Awareness of environmental safety measures should be created amongst the people engaged in the dyeing sector.

· A policy of registering all the dyeing units solely for ensuring environment friendly technology needs to be evolved.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1998

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Project with incomplete/partial informtion

Project No.:ISEC

Organization :Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Project Title :Organized and unorganized sector of silk yarn market in Karnataka some issues.

Personnel : Vijayalakshmi V, Manjula NR

Project Period :1995

Objectives :

· To study the organized and unorganized sectors of silk yarn market.

· To analyze the relationship of various market forces in the silk yarn market.

· To examine the yarn preferences of the consumers.

· To understand the consumer perceptions.

· To analyze the outer state linkages.

Results/Recommendations :

Source of Information :Completion Report

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Non-mulberry (Eri culture)

Project No.:IASST

Organization :Institute of Advance Studies of Science and Technology, West Boragaon, Guwahati

Project Title :Developing isozyme marker for different stocks of eri silkworm.

Personnel :Dipali Devi, Sarmah DK, Jayanta Deka, Dilip Talukdar

Funding Source :Department of Biotechnology, GOI

Project Period :1997-2001

Objectives :

· To find out the phenotypic variation of eri silkworm Philosamia ricini available in Northeast region.

· To understand phenotypic and enzyme diversity for characterization of germplasm stocks of eri silkworm.

Results/Recommendations :It has been concluded that from phenotypic and biochemical analysis, it is clear that among the 7 eco-races, the Borduar variety is the best followed by Dhanubhanga, Khanapara, Mendipathar, Nongpoh, Sillie and Titabar. The seven eco-races have been grouped as four stocks on clusters as-Gr 1-Bordouar, Gr II-Dhanubhanga, Gr-III-Khanapara, Nongpoh, Mendipathar, Gr IV-Sillie and Titabar.

It resembles the morphotypes belonging to the same eco-climatic pockets.

Project Outcome :Separated stocks of eri silkworm is highly recommendable to use for rearing for higher productivity in the field of eri culture.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report

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Non-mulberry (Muga culture)

Project No.:IASST

Organization :Institute of Advance Studies of Science and Technology, West Boragaon, Guwahati

Project Title :Development of muga silkworm with special reference to indoor rearing technique.

Personnel :Talukdar JN, Dipali Devi

Funding Source :Department of Science and Technology

Project Period :1995-1999

Objectives :

· Standardization of indoor rearing technique of muga silkworm.

· To study the affect of indoor rearing of leaf nutritive quality at various hours of preservation namely moisture, carbohydrates and proteins.

· Field testing of technique.

· To demonstrate the technique for the concerned state and central government department and the concerned NGO’s at different seasons.

· To train the grass root extension staff of DOS/MSDR/NGO workers and lead sericulturists.

· To assist the above organization/individuals in transfer of the indoor rearing technology.

· To create more employment opportunities for rural women and enhance their skill, self employability and economic status.

Results/Recommendations :

· The larvae reared under indoor or outdoor conditions can be transferred from one condition to the other at any point of times, as they are capable to adopt themselves normally in either condition. One can therefore, derive the benefit of the technique at least up to III instar and shifting either the whole population of larvae thus reared or a part of it to outdoor process is not mortality under indoor process upto III instar whereas it is as high as 30-40% under outdoor process. Curtailment of 30-40% mortality means increase of production by same amount.

· Another special feature of the technique is that the young larvae can be grown normally feeding them with whole leaves. This naturally reduces the cost of labour than the system of feeding with chopped leaves as practiced in case of mulberry silkworm.

· Though convinced on the efficacy of the techniques, most of the trainees are not yet utilizing the same for production of cocoon due to some difficulties. One of these difficulties is that most of the trainees are financially so poor that they cannot afford to spend money for construction of rearing house. Another difficulty is that the food trees available now are so tall that it is not easy not to speak of women, even for men to collect leaves for feeding the larvae reared indoor. To remove the difficulty fresh plantation of saplings of food tree is suggested. This will not only help the rearers to collect leaves easily standing on ground but also help to produce more nutritious leaves than from unpruned trees. However, this will also involve some expenditure.

Project Outcome :Developed a technology for rearing of muga silk worm at indoor condition.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report

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Project No.:IASST

Organization :Institute of Advance Studies of Science and Technology, West Boragaon, Guwahati

Project Title :Bacterial flacherie in muga silkworm (Antheraea assama) biochemical basis and its control.

Personnel :Arundhati Choudhury, Dipali Devi

Project Period :2000-2005

Objectives :Identification of the causal agent of flacherie disease in Antheraea assama larvae and control of the disease.

Results/Recommendations :

· The study revealed that the disease was gaining a momentum in different farms and some farms even considered it to be serious. Estimated crop loss in the farms where the disease occurred ranged from 2-100%. The disease in general occurred in summer months and no remedial measure was available with the farms to control the disease.

· Preventive measures such as use of disinfectants, care of host plants, avoidance of the infected plants for rearing, etc., were adopted by the farms to stop outbreak of flacherie.

· Experiments on larval survivability and in vitro antibacterial assay of immune haemolymph revealed peak immune response on third day. Comparison of the amount of food ingested, excreta produced and larval weight of the saline-injected control, vaccinated and live bacteria-injected larvae confirmed the effectiveness of vaccination against flacherie disease.

· Artificial induction of disease in Antheraea assama larvae caused a decline in trehalase activity was also observed in the fat body of treated larvae. In the haemolymph however the phosphorylase activity which was found to be low on the first two days, increased than the control from third day onwards. The increased activity suggests a greater breakdown of the polysaccharide glycogen in the haemolymph and a greater need for glucose in the diseased larvae.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report

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Extension

Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute for Social-Economic Change, Calcutta

Project Title :Production and distribution of dfls with special references to LSPs.

Personnel :Sunil Kumar Sarkar, Nisith K Roy, Sen P

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To enquire the present status and infrastructure of the grainage work of the seed preparers for the production of good quality eggs.

· To enquire the forward and backward linkages of the seed preparers, that is, the total dynamics of the linkages.

· To enquire the acceptibiity of the seed preparers to inputs from government.

· To enquire the strategy or the face of their needs, problem and constraints for expansion of quality dfls.

· To enquire the impact of this activity on their life.

Results/Recommendations :The spinners suggests that they should be allowed to spin in their respective houses rather than being forced to spin yarn in group in the courtyard of organizers house or in one place. This will help them to synchronize their household work and spinning activity suitably.

The spinners also hold that marketing facilities should be improved by setting up markets nearer to concentrates of spinners. This will help the spinners to negotiate directly with the clients.

The spinners strongly opined that the working capital in the scheme should be enhanced.

NGO involvement should be ensured, at least for the short run, with every women’s organization, to directly negotiate with the market.

The working capital should be made available on time to the women organization.

To meet the expenses of the spinners daily requirement, stipend should be advanced on a daily basis during the training period rather than giving the lumpsum of Rs.250 at a time.

Group leaders of the women’s organizations should have intensive training in management, supervision and accounting of this particular economic activity.

There should be arrangement for regular health check up of the spinners.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute for Social-Economic Change, Calcutta

Project Title :Popularisation of bivoltine/cross breed in traditional area.

Personnel :Nisith K Roy, Sunil Sarkar, Sen P

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To assess the status of different races – Nistari, cross breed and bivoltine.

· To enquire into the season – based preferences and attitudes for rearing different silkworms and reason/rationale for the same.

· To observe the availability of inputs in terms of the supply of dfls, extension service, disinfectants, credit etc., from the government agencies and its role in popularization of bivoltine and cross breed.

· To assess the problems and constraints in rearing bivoltine-cross breed races.

· To observe the impact of this activity on the life of the rearers.

Results/Recommendations :

· In winter seasons the supply N x Bi dfls should be assured and should have to increase and for other seasons suitable CB (multi x multi) is required.

· Arrangements should be made to improve the quality and to increase the quantity of CB dfls prepared by the LSPs.

· The supply of N x Bi dfls should be on time and early or late supply should be checked.

· The supply of pure disinfectants should be assured by the government and of possible at a subsidized rate during initial stages of CB or BV rearing for the new comer. Moreover, NGO should be encouraged to distribute the disinfectants among the rearers.

· More credit assistance should be given to the rearers who are lacking proper infrastructure for CB or BV rearing.

· To popularize BV, villagewise more frequent group meetings are required so that the rearers become convinced and confident in rearing bivoltine.

· Incentives should be given for bivoltine rearing for its popularization.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1994

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Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute for Social-Economic Change, Calcutta

Project Title :In search of a new bivoltine seed zone in the state – A study in West Bengal.

Personnel :Sunil Sarkar, Subrata Das, Nisith K Roy, Sen P

Project Period :1995-1996

Objectives :

· To observe the suitable physical condition for bivoltine seed zone in different possible seed zones.

· To observe the knowledge-base of the rearers in different possible seed zones.

· To find the adequacy of rearing infrastructure of the rearers and the inputs given by the departments.

· To assess the potentialities of different possible seed areas to be developed as successful bivoltine seed zone.

Results/Recommendations :

· The rearers should be provided training to increase their knowledge-base rear bivoltine seed cocoons.

· The extension services in terms of supervision, monitoring and guidance should be provided to the rearers on regular basis.

· Adequate supply of quality bivoltine laying should be assured.

· Credit is life-blood to sericulturists. All efforts should be made to see that individual credit is available to the rearers.

· The panchayat should be motivated and involved to the process of popularization of bivoltine cocoons.

· More productivity club should be established.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995-96

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Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute of social change, Calcutta

Project Title :Credit in sericulture: A study in West Bengal.

Personnel : Uttara Chakraborty, Nisith K Roy, Subrata Das K, Sen P

Project Period :1995-1996

Objectives : To reduce farmers dependence on informal resources or on private money lenders.

Results/Recommendations :

· The study reveals that the flow of credit in the state is quite unsatisfactory. The DOS should take initiative to motivate the lending institution and make them appreciate credit need in sericulture with examples of success stories.

· It should be ensured that the banks have the RBI guidelines with respect to granting sericulture credit.

· The present quantum of credit is too low. It needs revision in context of the prevailing market price.

· The financial lending institutions should keep the TSC officials from DOS, panchayats and the credit defaulters.

· Efforts should be made to establish cocoon markets and motivate particularly the credit recipients to sell the cocoon through these established markets.

· The literacy level is quite low and hence the proforma/application forms should be made simple and steps should be taken to remove procedural hurdles.

· The panchayats should be motivated to help the sericulturists in need of credit.

· After monitoring the role of productivity clubs already established in other sericulture districts.

· The enquiry shows that the credit recipients have attitudes towards repayment of loans. Banks, extension offices, panchayats and the newly formed productivity clubs should take necessary measures to motivate the rearers to repay the credit on time. It needs some persuasion.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995-96

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Extension

Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute for Social-Economic Change, Calcutta

Project Title :Production and distribution of dfls with special references to LSPs.

Personnel :Sunil Kumar Sarkar, Nisith K Roy, Sen P

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To enquire the present status and infrastructure of the grainage work of the seed preparers for the production of good quality eggs.

· To enquire the forward and backward linkages of the seed preparers, that is, the total dynamics of the linkages.

· To enquire the acceptibiity of the seed preparers to inputs from government.

· To enquire the strategy or the face of their needs, problem and constraints for expansion of quality dfls.

· To enquire the impact of this activity on their life.

Results/Recommendations :The spinners suggests that they should be allowed to spin in their respective houses rather than being forced to spin yarn in group in the courtyard of organizers house or in one place. This will help them to synchronize their household work and spinning activity suitably.

The spinners also hold that marketing facilities should be improved by setting up markets nearer to concentrates of spinners. This will help the spinners to negotiate directly with the clients.

The spinners strongly opined that the working capital in the scheme should be enhanced.

NGO involvement should be ensured, at least for the short run, with every women’s organization, to directly negotiate with the market.

The working capital should be made available on time to the women organization.

To meet the expenses of the spinners daily requirement, stipend should be advanced on a daily basis during the training period rather than giving the lumpsum of Rs.250 at a time.

Group leaders of the women’s organizations should have intensive training in management, supervision and accounting of this particular economic activity.

There should be arrangement for regular health check up of the spinners.

Source of Information :Completed Project Report:1994

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Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute for Social-Economic Change, Calcutta

Project Title :Popularisation of bivoltine/cross breed in traditional area.

Personnel :Nisith K Roy, Sunil Sarkar, Sen P

Project Period :1994

Objectives :

· To assess the status of different races – Nistari, cross breed and bivoltine.

· To enquire into the season – based preferences and attitudes for rearing different silkworms and reason/rationale for the same.

· To observe the availability of inputs in terms of the supply of dfls, extension service, disinfectants, credit etc., from the government agencies and its role in popularization of bivoltine and cross breed.

· To assess the problems and constraints in rearing bivoltine-cross breed races.

· To observe the impact of this activity on the life of the rearers.

Results/Recommendations :

· In winter seasons the supply N x Bi dfls should be assured and should have to increase and for other seasons suitable CB (multi x multi) is required.

· Arrangements should be made to improve the quality and to increase the quantity of CB dfls prepared by the LSPs.

· The supply of N x Bi dfls should be on time and early or late supply should be checked.

· The supply of pure disinfectants should be assured by the government and of possible at a subsidized rate during initial stages of CB or BV rearing for the new comer. Moreover, NGO should be encouraged to distribute the disinfectants among the rearers.

· More credit assistance should be given to the rearers who are lacking proper infrastructure for CB or BV rearing.

· To popularize BV, villagewise more frequent group meetings are required so that the rearers become convinced and confident in rearing bivoltine.

· Incentives should be given for bivoltine rearing for its popularization.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1994

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Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute for Social-Economic Change, Calcutta

Project Title :In search of a new bivoltine seed zone in the state – A study in West Bengal.

Personnel :Sunil Sarkar, Subrata Das, Nisith K Roy, Sen P

Project Period :1995-1996

Objectives :

· To observe the suitable physical condition for bivoltine seed zone in different possible seed zones.

· To observe the knowledge-base of the rearers in different possible seed zones.

· To find the adequacy of rearing infrastructure of the rearers and the inputs given by the departments.

· To assess the potentialities of different possible seed areas to be developed as successful bivoltine seed zone.

Results/Recommendations :

· The rearers should be provided training to increase their knowledge-base rear bivoltine seed cocoons.

· The extension services in terms of supervision, monitoring and guidance should be provided to the rearers on regular basis.

· Adequate supply of quality bivoltine laying should be assured.

· Credit is life-blood to sericulturists. All efforts should be made to see that individual credit is available to the rearers.

· The panchayat should be motivated and involved to the process of popularization of bivoltine cocoons.

· More productivity club should be established.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995-96

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Project No.:JISC

Organization :Jayaprakash Institute of social change, Calcutta

Project Title :Credit in sericulture: A study in West Bengal.

Personnel : Uttara Chakraborty, Nisith K Roy, Subrata Das K, Sen P

Project Period :1995-1996

Objectives : To reduce farmers dependence on informal resources or on private money lenders.

Results/Recommendations :

· The study reveals that the flow of credit in the state is quite unsatisfactory. The DOS should take initiative to motivate the lending institution and make them appreciate credit need in sericulture with examples of success stories.

· It should be ensured that the banks have the RBI guidelines with respect to granting sericulture credit.

· The present quantum of credit is too low. It needs revision in context of the prevailing market price.

· The financial lending institutions should keep the TSC officials from DOS, panchayats and the credit defaulters.

· Efforts should be made to establish cocoon markets and motivate particularly the credit recipients to sell the cocoon through these established markets.

· The literacy level is quite low and hence the proforma/application forms should be made simple and steps should be taken to remove procedural hurdles.

· The panchayats should be motivated to help the sericulturists in need of credit.

· After monitoring the role of productivity clubs already established in other sericulture districts.

· The enquiry shows that the credit recipients have attitudes towards repayment of loans. Banks, extension offices, panchayats and the newly formed productivity clubs should take necessary measures to motivate the rearers to repay the credit on time. It needs some persuasion.

Source of Information :Beneficiary Assessment Report:1995-96

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Silkworm Physiology

Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Studies and Research in Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad

Project Title :Biology of reproduction of the eri silkworm Philosamia ricini (Hutt)

Personnel :Hurkadli HK, Hooli MA

Project Period :1979-82

Objectives :

· To study the structure and histochemical distribution of acid phophatase activity, lipids, proteins and polysaccharides.

· To study the steroid metabolizing enzymes in the cells of the male and female gonads.

· To estimate the cholesterol content during the developmental stages as well as in the adult condition.

Results/Recommendations :From the present study it may be inferred that the ovaries of the IV and V instar larva, pupa and adult Philosamia ricini, adult Antheraea mylitta and Bombyx mori, atreic follicles of Philosamia ricini and Antheraea mylitta have the enzymes involved in the conversion of hydroxysteroids to ketosteroids, as they can convert the exogenous hydroxysteroid substrates to their corresponding ketosteroids. Further, the study also confirms the findings of the earlier workers that the so called vertebrate steroids are not the exclusive features of vertebrate gonads but are found in many invertebrates.

Source of Information :Annual Report 1994-95

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Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Studies and Research in Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad

Project Title :Studies on the effect of some chemicals on the silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Personnel : Kaliwal BB

Funding Source :UGC, New Delhi

Project Period :1994-1995

Objectives :

· To study the effect of Potassium sulphate, Magnesium sulphate and Ferrous sulphate on the economic parameters of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

· To study the effect of Potassium sulphate,Magnesium sulphate and Ferrous sulphate on the Carbohydrate and protein contents in the fat body and haemolymph of the silkworm.

· To study the effect of folic acid, thiamine and riboflavin on the economic parameters of silkworm Bombyx. mori.

· To study the effect of folic acid, thiamine and riboflavin on the carbohydrate and protein contents in the fat body and haemolymph of the silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Results/Recommendations :

· The significant change induced in carbohydrate and protein synthetic activity of the fat body and haemolymph of silkworm, Bombyx mori could be due to the effect of vitamins which act as co-enzyme of co-factors in a number of biochemical reactions. Higher concentrations of vitamins may have varying effect in the metabolic processes.

· Supplementation with Potassium and Magnesium Sulphates can gainfully be utilized to increase the cocoon shell weight in NB₄D₂ race of Bombyx mori.

· The dietary supplementation of Potassium, Magnesium and Ferrous Sulphate at different concentrations to silkworm effect metabolism thereby causes the significant variation in the carbohydrate and protein contents in fat body and haemolymph, which may help in the improvement of economic characters of silkworm Bombyx mori.

· The dietary supplementation of vitamins viz., folic acid, thiamine and riboflavin and other water soluble vitamins would play an important role in the improvement of the economic characters. However, further investigations needed to determine inexpensive sources of vitamins, proteins or sugar in the host plant. So that larger cocoons and healthy female moths for better oviposition can be obtained.

Source of Information : Annual Report 1994-95

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Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Sericulture, Karnatak University, Dharwad

Project Title :Promotion of red fluorescent protein synthesis in silkworm

Bombyx mori.

Personnel :Savanurmath CJ, Hinchigeri SB

Funding Source :DBT, New Delhi

Project Period :1995-1999

Objectives :

· Characterization, isolation and purification of 100 fraction Red Fluorescent Protein from the gut juice.

· Quantification of RFPs in different varieties of silkworms.

· Quantification of RFPs on feeding varieties of mulberry leaves.

· Seasonal variation of RFP synthesis in the gut juice of the silkworm.

· Trials of establishing anti nuclear polyhedral activity.

Results/Recommendations

· RFP maximum in Pure Mysore variety of silkworm.

· RFP yield is more when fed with M5 variety of mulberry leaf.

· Synthesis of RFP is higher during normal temperature and humidity.

· Higher temperature depresses the synthesis.

· Red fluorescent proteins have anti nuclear polyhedrosis property.

· Multivoltine races have the ability to synthesize more RFP; hence have more resistance to grasserie.

· Synthesis of RFP depends on the nutrition also.

· The leaves containing higher chlorophyll content have the favourable nutritional value.

Project Outcome :Standardized the procedures for Isolation, Purification and administration of RFP

Source of Information :Annual Report :2001-02

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Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Studies and Research in Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad

Project Title :Studies on the effect of some hormones and minerals on the

silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Personnel :Kaliwal BB

Funding Source :UGC

Project Period :1997-1998

Objectives :.

· To study effect of potassium nitrate supplementation on some economic parameters of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

· To study the effect of Magnesium Sulphate supplementation on some economic parameters of silkworm Bombyx mori L.

· To study effect of Magnesium Sulphate on the biochemical changes in the fat body and haemolymph of the multivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori L.

· To study effect of 2-4 Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid on some economic parameters of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Economic parameters-larval weight and larval duration, silk gland weight, cocooning percentage, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell ratio, silk filament length and denier, moth emergence percentage, length of ovariole, eggs per ovariole, fecundity and egg hatching percentage).

Results/Recommendations :

· The effect of supplementing the feed with each concentration of potassium nitrate 50, 100, 300 and 500 µg/ml to the 5^th instar resulted in a significant increase in economic parameters such as female cocoon weight, male cocoon weight and male cocoon shell weight. However, larval duration, eggs per ovariole and hatching percentage were decreased as compared with that of carrier control.

· Supplementation of potassium nitrate appeared to have some toxic effect upon eggs per ovariole, fecundity and hatching percentage.

· It is suggested that feeding mulberry leaves soaked in Potassium, Magnesium and Ferrous Sulphate at appropriate concentrations may be utilized for the improvement of economic parameters of the silkworm race NB₄D₂ of Bombyx mori.

· Supplementation of Magnesium Sulphate to silkworm larvae has better effect on improving the commercial characters and silk improvement.

· The repeated applications of 400 µg/ml to the 4^th and 5^th instars increased the cocoon weight by 22% and the cocoon shell weight by 15% and the result suggests that this dose maybe used to increase silk production in cross breed (PMxNB₁₈) of silkworm Bombyx mori L.

· Treatments with plant growth regulators alter the rate of synthesis of the insect-moulting hormone.

· The fecundity not significantly changed.

Source of Information : Annual Report :1997-1998

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Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post- graduate Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad.

Project Title :Studies on the effect of biotechnological technologies on the improvement of economic traits and biochemical constituents of the silkworm Bombyx mori.

Personnel : Arundhuti Bhattacharya, Kaliwal BB

Project Period :2003-2006

Objectives :

· To promote the silkworm growth and development.

· Technologies for food, water budget, economic and biochemical constituents of important Silkworm B. mori L.

Results/Recommendations :After use of different food additives, essential parameters are significant increased than control.

Project outcome :

Source of Information :From the Project Personnel

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Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post- graduate Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad.

Project Title :Studies on the effect of minerals and nitrogenous compounds on the silkworm Bombyx mori L by applying seri-biotechnological technologies.

Personnel :Swati Chakrabarty, Kaliwal BB

Project Period :2004-2007

Objectives :

· To evaluate the productivity of qualitative and quantitative silk.

· Identified and recommended various effective minerals and nitrogenous compounds for the maintenance of silkworm growth and development.

Results/Recommendations :

· Increase of economic and biochemical parameters with high molecular weight of haemolymph protein band of the silkworm Bombyx mori L.

· Potassium Carbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Arginine and Histidine were recommended to increase silkworm growth and developmet.

Project outcome :IBP Technology (Food and water budget), Electrophoresis technique (Haemolymph protein).

Source of Information :From the Project Personnel

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Silkworm Pathology

Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Sericulture, Karnatak University, Dharwad

Project Title :Studies on epidemiology of viral diseases of the silkworm Bombyx mori with reference to bio-ecological changes in Northern districts of Karnataka.

Personnel : Savanurmath CJ, Hinchigeri SB, Ingalahalli SS

Funding Source :Central Silk Board

Project Period :1991-1996

Objectives :

· Survey of incidence of viral diseases of Bombyx mori in 8 districts of northern Karnataka all through the years.

· Collection of all related data of soil types, rainfall, temperature, humidity, type of mulberry grown, fertilization etc., in different agroclimatic zones.

· Seasonal incidence of the diseases and the association with bio-ecological agro climatic condition for various silkworm races.

· Nutritional factor for the incidence of diseases.

· Studies on the laboratory induced pre-disposing factors.

Results/Recommendations :.

· The region is divisible into Malnad and transitional zones.

· Grasserie prevailed more on transitional and planes during summer and rainy seasons-high humid, low temperature, low humid dry chill condition.

· Flacherie prevailed during winter.

· Too tender or too old leaves fed during 5^th instar causes epizootics of grasserie.

· Pre-disposing factors: high temperature +low humidity, low temperature and high humidity, low temperature and low humidity encourage the occurrence of grasserie;

· Region specific and season specific races of silkworm be workout and recommended.

· Encourage bivoltine races only during safe periods of the year.

· Cross breeds or multivoltines can withstand harsher climatic conditions.

· Therefore. prepare a calendar of events for each agro climatic region and recommend the practice.

Source of Information : Karnatak University Annual Report: 1991-92

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Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Sericulture, Karnatak University, Dharwad.

Project Title :Biotechnological investigations on diagnosis of viral diseases of the silkworm Bombyx mori followed by curative measures.

Personnel : Savanurmath CJ, Hinchigeri SB, Rajeswari Sanakal

Funding Source :SDC

Project Period :1999-2004

Objectives :

· An accurate and fast detection of various viruses from the body of silkworms even before the start of pathogenesis involving Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology.

· To work out the pathogen load by densitometrical mode.

· Administration of proper medicine to cure the diseases.

· Field validation of curative and diagnostic measures at different locations of Karnataka state.

Results/Recommendations :

· Designing diagnostic kit for BmNPV.

· Designing and providing diagnostic kit for BmDNV.

· Designing and providing diagnostic kit for Bm IFV/Bm CPV.

· Curative measures against nuclear polyhedrosis at field level.

· Curative measures against densonucleosis at field level.

· Curative measures against BmIFV at field level.

· If implemented they would help increase productivity by about 30%

· Specially the small and marginal farmers would be helped thereby helping upliftment of the poor.

· Either a mobile laboratory or a clinical lab in a cluster of villages would facilitate the transfer of technology.

· Very much suitable for Agri-clinics or self help groups.

Project outcome: Diagnostic kits for viral diseases and curative measures developed.

Source of Information : Annual Report :2001-02

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Entomology

Project No.:KUD

Organization :Post-graduate Department of Sericulture, Karnatak University, Dharwad.

Project Title :Bio Systematic studies on the uziflies species of Exorista serious pest of silkworm (Collaborative project-Bangalore University).

Personnel : Puttaraju HP, Manjunatha HB

Funding Source :DST

Project Period :1996-1999

Objectives :

· To solve the nomenclature problem and taxonomic identity of Exorista species.

· To know the morphological and cytological variations if any biolysis exist.

· To study host-parasite relationship and species variation.

Results/Recommendations :Test map developed can be adopted to induce sterility in uzifly to control the natural population.

Project outcome :Test-map for genetic control of uzifly developed.

Source of Information :Information from Manjunatha HB, Karnatak University, Dharwad

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