In Tamil Nadu,sericulture is reshaping agricultural education and sparking entrepreneurship among rural youth . Agricultural colleges here now offer courses on sericulture and moriculture,growing mulberry leaves crucial for silkworms . This move aims to arm students with hands-on skills and promote agri-business models,especially in water-scarce areas.
R. Rajkumar,principal scientist at M.S . Swaminathan Research Foundation in Pudukottai,stressed sericulture's role as a backup to traditional paddy farming. Farmers in Cauvery Delta struggle with climate change,rising costs,and procurement woes . “Sericulture is an excellent tool for rural reconstruction in Tamil Nadu,” he said,seeing potential to boost farmers' livelihoods.
Starting sericulture? Needs less than ₹15,000 per acre. Mulberry plants can sustain silkworms for 20 years. A six-month-old plant produces leaves fit for silkworms. Sustainable option for farmers.
Colleges are jumping on this economic chance with certificate courses in sericulture. K. Haripriya,assistant professor at Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Agriculture College in Perambalur,said students take short hands-on course in their B.Sc. Agriculture program . “They grow mulberry garden,learn silkworm rearing with eggs from certified chawki centres. It’s exciting for them to see practical side of their studies,” she said.
This approach lets students earn while they learn and sparks job creation. Haripriya noted commercial chawki rearing centers can be profitable,many run small businesses with silk reeling machinery.
At Palar Agricultural College in Vellore District,sericulture is part of the curriculum,teaching students to develop silk production as a business. Principal N. Tamilselvan said the college set up a mini unit for cocoon rearing,silk extraction,giving students practical experience .
And Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) offers degree,diploma programs in sericulture . Rajkumar noted many rural graduates face unemployment due to socio-economic factors. He thinks entrepreneurship courses in sericulture can give students the scientific know-how and skills needed to create jobs in mulberry cultivation,silkworm rearing,cocoon harvesting,silk reeling and weaving.
This shift in education towards sericulture not only meets students' immediate economic needs but also aids agriculture's long-term sustainability in Tamil Nadu…
