Practice Name:

ERICULTURE - Non-violent silk-rearing technique

Details
Category	Agriculture,Others (Ericulture, Sericulture)
Crop
Crop Family
Scientific Name
Vernacular Name
Scout	HBN
Ingredients	Castor crop is necessary for erisilk production, as the larvae feed on the leaves.
Details of Innovation	The rearing of the silkworm larvae for the production of erisilk is termed as ericulture. A remarkable feature of ericulture is that unlike other types of silk where the pupa is killed before spinning yarn from the cocoons, in ericulture, the adult moth is allowed to emerge live from the cocoon. Eri-silk production is therefore a non-violent activity, which allows the larvae to complete its life cycle. Traditionally, the practice of eri-culture has remained confined to Assam and some other North-Eastern States. Eri-culture is practised as a household activity in rural areas and helps to earn additional income for the rural poor. Prominence of castor crop is the major prerequisite for the practice of eri culture. Gujarat, by virtue of being the largest castor-growing state in India, appeared a logical choice to Shri Shashi Kant Shukla, a training instructor in the local textile mill at Ahmedabad. Moreover the ethos of non-violence, which is deeply ingrained in Gujarat, complemented the non-violent nature of this method of silk-production. Prominence of textile mills in the state also provided opportunities to explore the best possible weaving, spinning and value-addition options for eri silk.

Innovator / Knowledge Provider	Shashikant Shukla
City / District	Ahmedabad
KVK District	KrishiVigyan Kendra, Anand Agricultural University, Arnej – 382 230. Tel:02714-242028
Address	Ahmadabad ,Gujarat
Languages Spoken	Gujarati
Vocation	Farming
State	Gujarat
PIN Code	380001

PAS_1	"Ericulture as a Remedy of Rural Poverty in Assam: A Micro Level Study in Barpeta District."https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24114897_Ericulture_as_a_Remedy_of_Rural_Poverty_in_Assam_A_Micro_Level_Study_in_Barpeta_District
PAS_2	"Ericulture."https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313692716_Ericulture
Agro Ecological Zone	Agro Ecological Sub Region (ICAR) Western plain, kachchh and part of kathiawar peninsula, hot arid eco-region (2.3), Agro-Climatic Region (Planning Commission) Coastal Plains and Hills (XIII), Agro Climatic Zone (NARP) Bhal and Coastal area (GJ-8) 14.26% North Gujarat ( GJ-4) 19.87% North west zone (GJ-5) 36.38 North Saurashtra (GJ-6) 29.49
Other Community Practices
Practice ID	KNW0020000000100
Reference	HBN database
Annotation ID	GIAN/GAVL/1140
Reference	HBN database
Scout	HBN