About Silk (Sericulture)
India is the world's second-largest silk producer and the only country that produces all four main kinds: mulberry, tasar, eri and muga. Ramanagara in Karnataka hosts one of Asia's largest silk cocoon markets.
Where Silk (Sericulture) Is Grown
The main growing states and districts are listed below. Tap a state for its markets, season, agencies and buyers.
| State | Main districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru | India's leading mulberry silk state. |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Chittoor (Madanapalle), Sri Sathya Sai | A major mulberry silk state. |
| Tamil Nadu | Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Erode | Mulberry silk. |
| West Bengal | Murshidabad, Malda | Mulberry silk of Murshidabad. |
| Assam | Sivasagar, Jorhat, Lakhimpur | Muga and eri silk. |
| Jharkhand | West Singhbhum, Dumka, Godda | Tasar silk. |
How It Is Grown
Mulberry silkworms are reared indoors on mulberry leaves grown on the farm; farmers sell cocoons to reelers, who unwind them into raw silk. Tasar silk comes from forest silkworms in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, eri and muga from Assam.
Season
Several rearing cycles a year for mulberry; seasonal for other silks.
Uses and Buyers
Reelers and twisters, weavers of Kanchipuram, Banaras, Mysore and other sarees, and exporters.
Quality and Price
Cocoons are graded by shell weight, reelability and freedom from defects; markets use open auctions.
Government Role
Silk (Sericulture) has no minimum support price, so it is bought almost entirely by private traders, processors and exporters. Government support comes through horticulture and crop missions, market regulation, export promotion and research.
Companies, Markets and Bodies
- Central Silk BoardBengaluruAboutExplore
- Ramanagara cocoon marketKarnatakaAboutExplore
- Karnataka Silk Industries CorporationMysore silkAboutExplore
Related: All crops · All states
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