Entrepreneurial Prospects in Sericulture: From Cocoon Rearing to Value-Added Silk Products

Syeda Fakrunnisa Begum

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.80853

Entrepreneurial Prospects in Sericulture: From Cocoon Rearing to Value-Added Silk Products

Author(s)	Dr. Syeda Fakrunnisa Begum
Country	India
Abstract	Sericulture, encompassing the complete silk production ecosystem from mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing to advanced value-added products like handwoven silk fabrics and designer apparel, emerges as a transformative agro-based enterprise for rural entrepreneurship in India. This comprehensive review synthesizes findings on how sericulture sustains over 9.8 million rural livelihoods, with 60-70% women participation through self-help groups (SHGs) and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) across major silk-producing states including Karnataka (45% national raw silk), Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Assam's non-mulberry sectors[20]. The paper delineates entrepreneurial prospects across the value chain: primary production via cocoon rearing units yielding ₹1.5-2.5 lakh/acre annually (3-5x traditional crops); intermediate processing through reeling, twisting, and weaving micro-enterprises; and high-margin downstream activities like dyeing, printing, and branded silk exports. Government interventions—Silk Samagra2 scheme (₹2,571 crore outlay), RKVY-Sericulture clusters, and 50-90% subsidies for cocoon rural resource centers (CRCs), silkworm seed stations, and silk parks—coupled with technical training programs have catalyzed 25-35% yield improvements via disease-resistant varieties (e.g., V-1 hybrids), automated rearing racks, and eco-dyeing technologies[18]. Despite low gestation (45-60 days/crop) and high ROI, challenges impede scalability: synthetic fiber competition eroding 15-20% market share, climate-vulnerable pebrine diseases causing 30% cocoon losses, fragmented supply chains inflating costs by 25%, labor shortages amid urbanization, and inadequate cold storage infrastructure. Emerging models address these through cooperative FPOs, digital platforms (e.g., e-Silk portals), blockchain traceability for GI-tagged silks (Mysore, Pochampally), and green sericulture integrating bio-pesticides[23]. Strategic recommendations advocate policy convergence with MUDRA loans, skill hubs under Atmanirbhar Bharat, export branding via APEDA, and agro-tourism silk experiences to scale sericulture to a $20 billion ecosystem by 2030. By fostering inclusive value chains, sericulture exemplifies rural agri-entrepreneurship, empowering marginalized communities, preserving traditional crafts, and driving sustainable rural transformation[9].
Keywords	Sericulture, agri-entrepreneurship, silk value chain, cocoon rearing, rural livelihoods, value-added silk products, SHGs, FPOs, Silk Samagra, sustainable rural development
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-30
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.80853

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Entrepreneurial Prospects in Sericulture: From Cocoon Rearing to Value-Added Silk Products

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