Taking the ‘silk route' in Punjab as Sericulture boosts farm income

Indian Express

14-05-2025

Sericulture, once a minor allied activity in Punjab's agricultural sector, has been rapidly gaining traction and offering significant support to poor farmers and below poverty line (BPL) families, particularly empowering women. This year, silk cocoon production has seen an increase in procurement, and more farmers, especially in the state's sub-mountain regions, are getting involved.
Punjab's sericulture activities — primarily practiced in one and more blocks in each of the four districts Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar — have expanded significantly. For the first time, Amritsar has joined the sericulture map under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, with silk chosen as its flagship product.
This year, Punjab has procured around 35,000 kg (35 metric tonnes) of green cocoons, surpassing last year's procurement of approximately 33,790 kg. The procurement has just concluded.
In Pathankot, a major hub, 29,819 kg of cocoons have been procured, with Dharkalan and Sujanpur blocks being the primary areas for silkworm rearing. Last year, 21,976 kg was procured from this region. Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar have seen a procurement spike with 4,500 kg of cocoons being purchased, compared to 3,900 kg last year. Amritsar, where the sericulture initiative is in the early stage, has procured 256 kg of cocoons.
There are now around half a dozen blocks across these five districts where silkworm rearing conditions are optimal. Nearly 1,000 farmers, of whom about 60% are women, are actively involved in sericulture in these blocks.
With 13 dedicated sericulture farms and technical support from the state Horticulture Department, Punjab produces both Mulberry and Eri silk, with Tasar silk also being introduced recently. The cocoon production has seen a remarkable increase from 22.71 MT in 2017-18 to over 35 MT so far — a growth of nearly 54%. The second crop of the year is expected to arrive in September.
Meanwhile, the average annual income per farmer has more than doubled — from Rs 20,000-25,000 to Rs 50,000-60,000.
Vandana Sharma, a woman farmer from Dharkalan, shared that she began rearing silkworms last year, and finds it highly beneficial. In less than a month, she can earn Rs 10,000-15,000, depending on the amount of silkworms used to produce cocoons. 'I'm a poor woman, and this occupation helps me greatly. I rear silkworms in the March-April and September seasons, as it takes less than a month to rear these worms,' she said.
Santosh Rani, another silkworm rearer from Dhar block, echoed similar sentiments, having 'sold around 35 kg of cocoons this season'.
Emphasising the home-based nature of the work, Shami Kumar, Divisional Sericulture Officer in Sujanpur (Pathankot), said it has 'enabled women from socially disadvantaged groups to contribute significantly to family incomes and achieve financial independence.'
Avtar Singh, Sericulture Farm Manager in Sujanpur, said cocoon prices have improved this year, with farmers receiving Rs 360-390 per kg, compared to Rs 290-330 per kg last year. For dry cocoons, the rate has risen to Rs 1,200 per kg. Singh said as demand for high-grade cocoons surged in 2023-24, market rates skyrocketed from Rs 550 to Rs 1,250 per kg, directly benefiting farmers. 'Sericulture is thriving under the Horticulture Department, Punjab, which subsidises silk seeds provided to BPL familieso through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives,' Singh said. 'We procure seeds from Dehradun, keep them for some time, and supply them to farmers.'
Kartar Pathania, Sericulture Officer in Dharkalan, said: 'Through initiatives like Silk Samagra and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the state is providing financial and technical support for nurseries, plantations, rearing equipment, disinfectants, training, and the construction of rearing centres. Exposure visits, awareness camps, and resource development programmes are regularly conducted to upskill farmers.'
Dr Balwinder Singh and Ramandeep Kaur, sericulture officers in Hoshiarpur, said 'the government provides a 50% subsidy for shed construction for the general category and 60% for reserved categories, and special attention is given to SC/ ST families, with sericulture emerging as a reliable source of livelihood and dignity.'
It is expected that a reeling unit approved for Pathankot will double the income of rearers and reduce dependence on external markets. With the introduction of Eri culture, the working season has expanded from three to up to eight months a year, resulting in a 25% increase in farmers' income and enhanced social status.
Shailender Kaur, director of the Horticulture Department, said that 'the state government aims to create a full value chain by transforming raw cocoons into silk threads and finished products within the state. Streamlined marketing facilities at the government level are ensuring that farmers receive remunerative prices without exploitation.
Punjab's sericulture success was recently recognised at the national level, with the state receiving a Silver SKOCH Award in 2024 for its project on 'Women Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development', she said, adding: 'The state hosted its first-ever National Silk Expo at Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh — a milestone event that showcased local silk products and provided networking opportunities for rearers, buyers, and innovators.'
The Department also unveiled a dedicated sericulture logo, reinforcing its identity and ambition to establish 'Punjab Silk' as a premium brand over the next five years. Kaur said: 'Plans are in place to boost cocoon production to 50 MT, expand plantation areas, and invest in silk thread and cloth production, as well as value-added products.'