Introduction

 

Sericulture is an agro based industry and plays a vital rolein the economy of Malda district comprising 60% of national share and 75% ofstate share in raw silk production. 80% of this industry is confined inKaliachak block I, II and III. Sericulture is now practiced in about 660villages in Malda district. More than 19,000 acres of land is under mulberrycultivation and more than 60,000 families are directly and indirectly earningtheir living from sericulture. Out of the total workers engaged in sericultureand silk industry, 98% (Directorate of Sericulture, Malda.) belong to minoritycommunities (i.e. Muslim). Women folk of the rearer families also play apivotal role in this industry contributing approximately 60% of the total workforce.


Annual production of commercial cocoon exceeded 11,000MT,raw silk production also exceeded 1,200MT; silk waste was above 1,000MT andMatka production was also above 100MT in 2005 in Malda district. The face valueof the produces was from 110-112 crores of rupees in the said year. Generallythe annual per capita income ranges from Rs. 18,000/- to Rs.20, 000/-.





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