Pune leads in Maharashtra state cocoon production

11 May '10

2 min read

While the cocoon production of Maharashtra state reached 1,661 metric tons (MT) during 2009-10, district Pune topped the cocoon production by achieving a target of 614 MT, which is an approximate share of 37 percent.

Around 1,436 farmers from 251 villages belonging to nine talukas had started with mulberry plantation and cocoon manufacturing on 2,250 acres of land. This had led to a turnover of Rs 83.5 million. Cocoon is a part of sericulture process or silk production and its output is silk fabric when processed.

With over a thousand farmers opting for sericulture activities, which include mulberry farming and cocoon production, each year, district's mulberry plantation and cocoon production is experiencing an increase. Also, the farmers have been witnessing good amount of earnings, averred an official.

While the cocoons are sold to both private companies and the government, currently, about 50 percent of the total production is being purchased by the government.

With more number of farmers choosing cocoon production, it has resulted in educating farmers about sericulture output. This has further led to a rise in production, in the last two years, by 176 MT. By 2010-11, Maharashtra intends to cultivate about 3,000 acres of land with mulberry plantations.

During 2009-10, Maharashtra produced 1,661 MT cocoons on land measuring 9,743 acres. More so, with the help of 7,614 farmers, state sericulture activities have provided direct job opportunities to around 48,700 people.

Apart from Pune, districts such as Solapur, Satara, Ahmednagar, Jalna, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Aurangabad are also actively involved in cocoon production. In addition, Pune is amongst the four districts including, Osmanabad, Buldana and Beed that were selected by the Union government for sericulture schemes.

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