Spinning success from Sericulture 

​Hindupur: Mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing have become a money spinner for the drought-hit small and marginal farmers of Anantapur district. After incurring heavy losses season after season due to drought, thousands of farmers in Hindupur, Penukonda, Madakasira, Dharmavaram, Puttaparthi and other mandals have switched over to sericulture to earn a good income.

According to sericulture officials, mulberry is being cultivated in 50,000 hectares in the district. With the encouragement and other incentives provided by the State Government to promote sericulture, more and more farmers are getting attracted to mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing. A mulberry farmer can reap five crops a year as the crop comes to harvest within one and half a month.

A farmer can earn an income ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 per acre by investing Rs 20,000 on raising the crop. Mulberry plantations can also be raised under borewells. Drip irrigation and other modern farming techniques come in handy to mulberry cultivators to increase the average crop yield per acre.

The Sericulture Research and Development Institute in Hindupur is also promoting sericulture in the district in a big way by providing scientific advice to farmers to raise mulberry plantations and rear silkworms. As sericulture is labour intensive, it is generating considerable employment for agricultural workers in drought-hit mandals.

Kondapuram (Siripuram) village in Penukonda mandal has got prominence in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing where most of the ryot families are dependent on sericulture for their livelihood. Sericulture has brought prosperity to the village. Speaking to The Hans India, Venkatesh, a farmer of Kondapuram, said: ``I am earning a good income by cultivating mulberry crop in three acres. I am selling my produce at a remunerative price in Hindupur market. I am also providing employment to five other families through sericulture.’’

The government is providing drip irrigation equipment at total subsidy to mulberry farmers to cover one acre of land. Mulberry leaf shredders are being supplied to cultivators at 50 per cent subsidy. A 50 per cent subsidy is also being provided to sericulture farmers to erect sheds for silkworm rearing. A campaign has also been taken up to create awareness among small and marginal farmers about the benefits of mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing.

Incharge Deputy Director of Sericulture Sadasiva Reddy said: ``The department is providing necessary guidance and adequate support to sericulturists to enable them to reap profits.’’ Marketing officer Pratap Reddy said: ``Sericulture farmers of Anantapur district used to sell their produce at the cocoon market in Ramanagaram of Karnataka earlier.

They can sell their produce at a remunerative price at the cocoon market in Hindupur now. The payments are being made soon after the sale of cocoons in the form of a DD along with the incentive provided by the government.’’ In the wake of acute shortage of irrigation water and depletion of the groundwater table in the district to raise traditional crops like groundnut and sunflower, sericulture with good income potential has proved to be a viable alternative for small and marginal farmers.

By Payyavula Praveen