Mancherial excels in sericulture, achieves 50 per cent of target set for Telangana

The district registered a record rise in production of silkworm cocoons in 2024. It saw a yield of 29.10 lakh cocoons in the recently ended year as against the production of 24.10 lakh cocoons in 2023, reflecting a growth of 21 percent.

Mancherial: The district, known for coal mining, thermal power and mangoes, is gradually earning a special recognition in the country by excelling in sericulture or silk farming, a lesser explored field in Telangana.

The district registered a record rise in production of silkworm cocoons in 2024. It saw a yield of 29.10 lakh cocoons in the recently ended year as against the production of 24.10 lakh cocoons in 2023, reflecting a growth of 21 percent. Significantly, it achieved nearly half of the production in Telangana, which was 60 lakh cocoons, the Sericulture department’s assistant director Parvathi Rathod said.

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Officials said the cocoons would be processed at a centre belonging to the Sericulture department in Chennur soon. They expect that traders would quote around Rs.6.50 per cocoon due to the dip in yield of the crop in other States. The cocoons, procured from the growers, are going to be sold through an open auction in Chennur in a couple of weeks. Silk worm traders from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and many other parts of the country take part in the auction.

Around 650 aboriginal tribals residing in 14 villages in Chennur, Vemanapalli, Kotapalli, Kannepalli and Nennal mandals of the district have been traditionally cultivating the cocoons in 1,000 acres of natural forests with the help of Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA)-Utnoor since 1982. A silkworm farmer is able to earn around Rs.1 lakh per annum.

Cultivating tasar cocoons has been an integral part of lives of the aboriginal tribals of erstwhile Adilabad district for a quite long time. Considering mettle proved by the tribals in this field, the Tribal Welfare department has been supporting the farmers by extending a slew of services such as market linkage, production and supply of seeds, guidance, and upgrading their skills.

Cocoons of tasar, a variety of silk, contain many insects that are processed to produce exquisite silk thread used in manufacturing saris and other clothing. They are traditionally grown by the tribals by camping in the forests as means of livelihood for many decades. They are cultivated on leaves of Terminalia Arjuna (Tellla Maddi) and Yeru Maddi trees grown in the land parcels.

Tasar cocoons procured in Mancherial in 2024: 29.10 Lakh

Tasar cocoons procured in Mancherial in 2022: 24.10 Lakh

Total yield of tasar cocoons in 2022: 38 Lakh

Target cocoons production in Telangana in 2024: 60 Lakh

Expected price to be quoted per cocoon in 2024: Rs 6.50

Price quoted per cocoon in 2023: Rs 5.10

Income earned by a farmer per annum: Rs 1 lakh

Area of cultivation: 1,000 acres of forest

Tasar cocoons growers in Mancherial: 650

Mandals: 5, Chennur , Vemanapalli, Kotapalli, Kannepall, Nennal

Villages: 14

• Silk traders from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal show interest to buy tasar cocoons of Telangana
• Cocoons of tasar, a variety of silk, contain many insects that are processed to produce exquisite silk thread used in manufacturing saris and other clothing
• Cocoons are traditionally grown by the tribals by camping in the forests as means of livelihood for many decades.
• Cocoons are cultivated on leaves of Terminalia Arjuna (Tellla Maddi) and Yeru Maddi trees grown in the land parcels