3 4 ROLE OF WOMEN IN SERICULTURE By

3. 4 ROLE OF WOMEN IN SERICULTURE By: Dr. Shamim Ahmed Bandey Assistant Professor Govt. Degree College, Poonch

� Sericulture has emerged as the most important cash crop with minimum investment, low gestation period, high employment potential and highly remunerative return.

� Sericulture is labor based industry in all its phase. It can generate employment up to 11 person for every kg of raw silk produced. Out of which more than 6 persons are women. � It is estimated that India is the home to 12. 7 crores working women's and 90% of them are working in the unorganized sector.

� In India, the females comprise 48. 18% of the total population. In Sericulture sector, women form major working power. � Sericulture being one of the most important cottage industries can provide employment for the Indian women.

� � � Sericulture is really a village based industry that provides employment to both skilled and unskilled labor, women and aged person at home at minimum risk. Women are engaged about 60% work in various sectors in Sericulture. Women are mostly favored because of their industrious nature they are engaged in mulberry garden, rearing and grain age activities.

� Women play a key role in sericulture industry. In India, women are mostly found as the major activist in sericulture. � Presently, about 60% of total working force contributing in sericulture as worker in raising food plants, leaf collection, silkworm rearing, reeling/spinning and weaving is women.

� � � It is a labor intensive agro-industry and can provide livelihood support to the unemployed rural women. It is the best occupation for women in the changing scenario of their family income. Women are playing their important role in silkworm rearing, silk reeling and processing activities.

� Participation of women in mulberry Cultivation: Activity under mulberry cultivation includes: ploughing, leveling, weeding, FYM application, harvesting of leaves etc. which are done by female with full efficiency also.

� Participation in silkworm rearing: It includes activities like silkworm rearing (young and late age rearing), feeding, bed cleaning and harvesting of cocoon etc. � It is not uncommon to find women folks helping men in feeding and bed cleaning of silkworms.

� When silkworms are matured and time is for spinning the cocoons. Women's are seen picking worms and placed them on mountages for spinning of cocoons very patiently. � In post cocoon technology the involvement of the women is greater, commencing from silk reeling, weaving and garment manufacturing industry.

Under the National Sericulture project there open some plan for women like: � Special Training programme for women. � Allotment of land in the name of women who are interested etc. These programmes under implementation for raising the active participation of women in Sericulture.

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