GROWTH IN AREA AND PRODUCTION OF SERICULTURE IN NORTH-EASTERN STATES-A SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ASSAM

The sericulture industry provides sustainable income for the rural people and generates higher income; and provides employment to both skilled and unskilled labor (Lakshman et al,.1998). The North Eastern India contributes about 99 per cent of total production of Muga in the country and designated as world monopoly for the golden yellow muga silk. However, there is a lot demand for the non-mulberry silk outside the India. This study aims to examine the share of various North Eastern states in area and production of sericulture, district-wise share in Assam using secondary data relating to area and production of cocoon and raw silk like Eri, Muga and Mulberry for the period from 2001-02 to 2015-16. The share of North-eastern states in India’s total area under mulberry and total raw silk production was increased significantly during the study period. Assam and Manipur were the leading states contributing to the increase in area under mulberry and raw silk production of North-Eastern states. The growth rate of area under Eri and Muga silk were 1.96 percent and 1.64 percent respectively but found negative for Mulberry silk (-0.43%) for state as a whole. In most of the districts of Assam, growth rates were positive and significant for area under Eri and Muga. Growth in raw silk production was higher in Eri (14.77%) followed by Mulberry (7.81%) and Muga (2.59%) in the state.