International Conference on Management, Economics and Social Sciences (ICMESS'2011) Bangkok Dec., 2011

EXPLORATION OF VANYA BIODIVERSITY IN NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA: SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

S. A. Ahmed and R.K. Rajan

mainly in N. E. Region, now practiced in many other states) Abstract—India has the distinction of being only country in and Muga – Golden silk produced only in Brahmaputra valley the world producing all the five commercially exploited silk of province in NE Region. The non-mulberry varieties. India is considered as hot spot of seri-biodiversity (Tasar, Muga & Eri) are now being popularized as Vanya silk. particularly in case of non-mulberry (vanya) silk sector which The golden yellow of Assam is unique product of play a significant role in sustainable rural livelihood and India and nowhere in the world is available due to peculiar poverty alleviation in the country. Globally India is the second insect behavioural adaptation and requisite climatic condition. largest producer of silk and contributes about 15.5 % to the Unlike mulberry silk, vanya silk is wild in nature and reared total world raw silk production and generates employment to in open fields on trees in natural forests and perennial 6.8 million rural people mostly women folk. The vanya silk plantations except eri which is completely domesticated and cultivation is an eco friendly and women friendly occupation reared in indoor conditions. Silk produced by this group are that provides high employment, vibrancy to village economies simple, elegant and natural with uniqueness in colours such as and ideal programme for weaker section of society. The role natural shades of off-white, beige, brown and golden yellow. of programme and policies formulated by the Government of All production processes are eco-friendly and do not produce India such as Catalytic Development Programme, Indian chemical effluents at any stage of process. Fibres are user Forest (Conservation) Act 1981, Fibre Policy 2010 and Brand friendly and healthy because of their porous texture and Management for conservation of vanya silk vis-à-vis inclusive thermal properties, most of the consumers worldwide prefer societal development have been highlighted in the studies. them in their natural colours. However, there is immense scope for product development and diversification to address Keywords—Seri-biodiversity, sustainable livelihood, poverty consumer preferences in different parts of world. alleviation, Vanya silk. Silk constitutes world’s 3 per cent trade and India’s share in the world silk trade is about 9 percent and which is I. INTRODUCTION growing in recent years. Globally India is the second largest ERICULTURE broadly comprises inter-linked activities such producer of silk and contributes about 15.5 % to the total Sas food plant cultivation and maintenance to feed the world raw silk production [6]. in India has been silkworms, silkworm rearing to produce the silk cocoons, considered as one of the most labour intensive sectors, reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament, yarn combining activities both agriculture (sericulture) and making, weaving and processing of fabric. India, has the industry. It provides livelihood to a large section of the distinction of being the only country in the world, producing population, i.e., around 6.8 million people covering silkworm all the five commercially exploited silk varieties viz. seed producers, farmers-cum-rearers, reelers, twisters, Mulberry silk produced throughout the country, Tropical weavers, spinners of , traders, etc. Silk is a highly Tasar, temperate/Oak Tasar, produced by tribal inhabiting remunerative cash crop, with minimum investment but rich Central India and Sub-Himalayan Region, (spun silk dividends, and is the only cash crop which provides sustained returns throughout the year. India’s Export earnings are more produced than INR 30000 million per annum (Table.1).

S.A. Ahmed is with the Germplasm Conservation Centre, Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, CSB, Govt. of India, Chenijan, Jorhat- II. OVERVIEW OF VANYA SILK BIODIVERSITY 785010, India (Corresponding author) (Phone: +91-9957176388; fax: +91- India is considered as the hot spot of agro-biodiversity. 376-233; e-mail:saahmed31@ gmail.com). R.K. Rajan is with the Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, Seri-biodiversity refers the variability in sericigenous or silk Central Silk Board, Lahdoigarh, Jorhat, India as Director of the Institute. producing insects and their host plants [16]. Non mulberry silk

485 International Conference on Management, Economics and Social Sciences (ICMESS'2011) Bangkok Dec., 2011 moths are wild or semi-domesticated “charismatic fauna” of cultivation and production, color stability (everlasting), which produce lustrous silk and exhibit a great range of golden colour increases with each variation in life history from egg to adult with wash, tensile strength (4.53g/dn), characteristically different physiological, morphological and strongest amongst all silks, UV absorption capacity (>80%), durability (over 50 years), acid a b c resistant (resistant to concentrated Sulfuric acid) and thermal properties. The present production is around 105 MT and (a) Samia canningi, (b) Cricula trifenestrata (c) Attacus atlas around 50,000 families feeding parameters [9]. Fairly good numbers of references are directly engaged in on record about seri-biodiversity and their potential as a muga farming. The source of natural silk in Indian subcontinent [2, 5, 8, 12, 17, silkworm is multivoltine 20]. Further as many as 40 species estimated in India alone with two commercial [2]. It is also reported about 80 species occurring in Asia and crops during October- Africa to produce wild silk of economic value [7]. The family November and March-April. The commercial rearing comprises of about 1200-1500 species all over the operation is carried out in the outdoor conditions except world of which the Indian sub-continent, extending from cocoon formation and seed production activities. The Himalayas to Sri Lanka may possess over 50 species [12]. It is production process is highly influenced by climatic conditions the largest family of Bombycoidea sensu stricto, containing and due to non-availability of hybrids, the production and about 1861 species in 162 genera and 9 subfamilies [10]. The productivity is static during last two decades. saturniids which include some of the largest and most spectacular species of all Lepidoptera are univoltine to B. Eri Silk (Samia ricini Donovan) multivoltine depending upon the climatic conditions and are Eri silkworm is the only domesticated silkworm among the distributed in both temperate and tropical region [15]. The vanya silks in N.E. Region of India. Of late, eri culture has North-Eastern Region of India makes ideal home for a number been introduced to many non- of wild sericigenous insects and is epicentre of wild silk traditional provinces of India. culture including muga ( assamensis Helfer), eri Over the period of a decade (Samia ricini Donovan), oak tasar (Antheraea proylei Jolly ) annual production of eri raw and mulberry silk ( Linn.) [14]. However, the silk has significantly diversity of wild sericigenous insects in the region is not fully increased to 2460 MT (2009- explored. Given the rapid changes in land use pattern, it is 10) from 974 MT (1999- pertinent to explore, characterize, conserve and document the 2000) which is 73 per cent of status of these precious faunal species in the region. While a total raw silk production in few survey reports on wild sericigenous insects in the North- India. The sector is a means of livelihood to 1.83 lakh farm Eastern India are available [3-4, 18-19], overall diversity and families. The increase in production is due to the horizontal distribution pattern of wild silk moths in the Region are expansion of plantation and not due to the increase in generally lacking. There are 24 species of the family productivity. Development of improved breeds along with Saturniidae enlisted from North East India, including three adoption of available improved technologies is the important species of wild silk moths viz., Antheraea assamensis, tools for enhancement of productivity and employment Antheraea roylei and Attacus atlas from Nagaland [16]. The generation among rural poor. detail bio-ecology of wild silk, Cricula trifenestrata Helfer Eri silkworm is multivoltine (5-6crops in a year) and has been studied as a pest of som plant which is having polyphagous feeding on more than 20 different food plants immense scope for commercial exploration [1]. The available in India such as communis L, Heteropanax domesticated eri silk worm (Samia ricini) is not really a fragrans (Roxb.) Seem, Evodia flaxinifolia Hook., Manihot distinct species but a form derived from Samia canningi esculanta Crantz. and different species of Ailanthus. The eri through centuries of selection for silk production which is silk has been branded as “ASHIMSA distributed throughout the region. Some of the commercially SILK” as silk is extracted without exploited vanya silks are as follows: killing the pupa. There are 19 eco- races and 6 strains of domesticated eri A. Muga Silk (Antherea assamensis Helfer) silkworms besides wild eri silk have Muga silk is a product of the Silkworm Antherea assamensis been identified and commercially Helfer endemic to Assam province. The larva of these exploited for improvement of silkworms feed primarily on som (Persea bombycina) and productivity. Exploitation of eri pupa soalu (Litsaea polyantha) leaves. The natural golden color silk as protein rich food enhances the produced is known for its glossy fine texture and durability. income level of rural poor from INR 2500 to INR 14500 out Muga possesses unique characteristics such as unique method of 100 disease free layings.

486 International Conference on Management, Economics and Social Sciences (ICMESS'2011) Bangkok Dec., 2011

C. Tasar Silk TABLE 3 MAJOR VANYA SILKS AND THEIR FOOD PLANTS Tasar culture usually practiced in forests by tribals and other Vanya Entomologi Common Food Plants Distribution inhabited in Central, sub Himalayan silk cal Name in India belt and North Eastern region of India. Tasar Antherea Terminalia arjuna, Jharkhand, Altogether 636 Indian tribes constitute silk mylitta D T. tomentosa, Orissa, 8.08% strength of total population and A. proylei J Shorea robusta Chattisgarh, 80 per cent of them residing in Central A. pernyi Quercus incana, Manipur, A. yamamai Q. serrata, Q. semicarpifolia, Andhra India. The Tasar traditional states, A. frithi Q. himalayana Q. citrate, Prdesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Q. serrata Q. acutissima Nagaland, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Assam Pradesh and West Bengal have 18.18% forest coverage of Attacus Maesa indica (Roxb.) Wall Assam, their total geographical area 1377237 Sq. Kms. 15 per cent of atlas L. Evodia flaxinifolia Hook Nagaland, forest area is Litsea polyantha Juss Mizoram mainly Muga Antheraea Litsea polyantha Juss Assam, silk assamensis L. citrate, Meghalaya, covered by Helfer. Persea bombycina Kost Nagaland mixed type of Eri silk Samia Ricinus communis L. N.E. Region, Tasar host ricini Heteropanax fragrans Orissa, flora. The Donovan (Roxb.) Seem. Andhra tasar host Evodia flaxinifolia Hook. Pradesh, Uttar Manihot esculanta Crantz. Pradesh flora spread Ailanthus grandis, A. excelsa, over 11.16 A. malabarica and A million ha out of which 9.70 and 1.40 million ha of land are altissima predominantly covered under Sal (Shorea robusta) and Wild Samia Ricinus communis L. Assam , Eri Silk canningi Heteropanax fragrans Manipur, Terminalia species, respectively. Only 5% of the existing tasar Hutton (Roxb.) Seem. Nagaland, flora is harnessed for pre cocoon activities by 1.24 lakh tribal Evodia flaxinifolia Hook Mizoram families. Pre cocoon activity generates net returns to tune of Manihot esculanta Crantz. INR 10,000-12,000 annually after putting efforts for 60-70 Anthocephalus cadamba Lamk, Ailanthus grandis days. Litsea salicifolia Roxb TABLE 1 Litsea cubeba Pers, STATUS OF SILK INDUSTRY IN INDIA Psidium guajava L. Particulars 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 GR (%) Wild Cricula Persea bombycina Kost. Assam, Raw Silk production (MT) Muga trifestrata Litsea cubeba Pers Nagaland, (a) Mulberry 16245 15610 16315 0.24 Helfer. Mangifera indica Manipur, (b)Vanya Silk Psidium guajava L. Meghalaya i) Tasar 428 603 803 43.81 ii) Eri 1530 2038 2460 30.39 iii) Muga 117 119 105 (-)5.13 III. VANYA SILK CONSERVATION AND RURAL Sub-Total (b) 2075 2760 3285 31.16 LIVELIHOOD Grand Total (a+b) 18320 18370 19690 3.74 The total forest cover of India as per State of Forest Report Employment (million 6.12 6.31 6.82 persons) 2003 is 678,333 km², which Export (INR in million) 27280 31782 28718 constitutes 20.64 % of the geographic area of the country, TABLE 2 plays a significant role in ECONOMIC PARAMETERS OF VANYA SILKS Characters Tasar Oak Muga Eri biodiversity protection, global Tasar environment conservation, landside Cocoon Colour Yellow/ Light Light Brick red prevention and soil preservation, grey Brown Brown , creamy headwater conservation, health, recreational and cultural, white material production (silk, timber, food such as mushroom etc, Cocoon Wt. (g) 12.65 6.22 6.3 3 Shell wt. (g) 1.65 0.76 0.5 0.4 fertilizers, feeds, raw material for pharmaceutical and other industrial products, extracted ingredients, greening materials Silk Ratio (%) 13.04 12.9 9.5 13 etc). These huge forest bio-resources may effectively be Fecundity (Nos.) 180-220 120 150-180 300-400 utilized for conservation and economic exploration of Filament length (m) 800-1400 750 500-800 NA sericigenous insects available in the country for sustainable rural livelihood and poverty alleviation which is the major It is evident from the above facts, it is high time to take issue of developing country including India. It is evident from appropriate measures to conserve all these vanya silk and the Table 1 that productivity improvement in mulberry explore their economic utility for the betterment of sustainable sericulture sector is stagnant in spite of technological rural livelihood in forest dwelling and disadvantaged areas of intervention in silkworm improvement as well as host plant India. management. However, growth rate of vanya silk is quite

encouraging due to effective utilization of forest cover,

487 International Conference on Management, Economics and Social Sciences (ICMESS'2011) Bangkok Dec., 2011 improvement of rearing techniques, effective technological and Eri industry in the country. Similar institute for Tasar silk support in post-cocoon has been establishment at Ranchi, Jharkhand state .The deep sectors. The North Eastern strides on R&D aspects have been made in respect of vanya states, Jharkhand and silk conservation and their exploration for socio-economic Chattisgarh states of India are development of rural masses in the country. To achieve this primarily dominated by tribal goal, one exclusive Germplasm Conservation Centre has been populations. The vanya silks developed at Jorhat are practiced mostly by these (India). Further, the tribal and socio economically centrally sponsored disadvantaged sections of the scheme known as Catalytic society. Development programme Women constitute over 60 % of those employed in down- (CDP) initiated from IX stream activities of sericulture in the country. So, it is a plan period (1997-2002) predominantly a women-friendly activity, from rearing to onwards to ensure marketing are carried out mostly by women. Even silk reeling coordinated effort to and spinning (in case of eri silk activities including weaving is support sericulture at all largely supported by them. stages of value addition, promote new technologies and Every 3.07 kg of silk produced and used in handlooms package of practices, support to efforts of NGOs, Co- generates gainful employment of one man year. This potential operative Societies, Forest Management Committees, Self is par-excellence and no other Help Groups etc. , facilitating linkages amongst stakeholders industry generates this kind of and strengthening the supply-chain for silk production, employment, specially in rural improve productivity and reduce input costs, focused largely areas, hence, sericulture is used on supporting stakeholders ranging from food plant to as a tool for rural reconstruction. marketing products, creating employment opportunities in Further, 57 % of the gross value rural areas and market orientation to Vanya silks besides of silk fabrics flows back to the public-private partnership in areas of production chain. The Government of India under Forest (Conservation) Act, cocoon growers with share of income to different groups (56.8 1980 has issued notification in respect of vanya silk % to cocoon grower, 6.8% to the reeler, 9.1% to the twister, cultivation. Under this Act, The State/UT Forest Department 10.7% to the weaver and 16.6% to the traders). Thus, large should encourage silk cultivation in forests areas by tribals chunk of income goes back to the villages from the cities. and non-tribals who live in and around the forests and are Features such as low gestation (20-45 days), high returns dependent on such forests for their livelihood. However, make sericulture an ideal programme for weaker sections of priority should be given to the tribals and to those enjoy the society. Finally, as a perennial crop with good foliage and traditional rights on such forests. The State/UT Forests root-spread, host plants contribute to soil conservation and Departments should permit such activities in already identified provide green cover. Waste from silkworm rearing can be naturally grown forest areas for silk cultivation and the recycled as organic manure to garden. Dried twigs and plantation raised for the purpose thereof in coordination with branches are used as fuel in place of firewood and therefore the State/UT Sericulture Department and Central Silk Board. reduce the pressure on vegetation/forest. Further, being a Cultivation of trees on which vanya silks or silk worms of labour intensive and predominantly agro-based activity, it is Tasar, Oak Tasar, Muga, Eri and Frithi could be reared by considered as eco-friendly activity to address the ill-effect of tribals and non-tribals living in and around the forest areas for climate changes.

IV. INITIATIVES FROM GOVT. OF INDIA Central Silk Board, Government of India has branded the vanya silk and symbol is registered as trademark. It depicts a very unique concept of Indian-ness personified by the calligraphic Devanagari letter ‘Va’ crafted with bold brush strokes inside a cocoon. These symbolize multiple strands of silk. The term “Vanya” is of origin, meaning untamed, wild, or forest based Vanya! – the wild silks of Ex-situ and in-situ conservation measures at GCC, Chenijan India. The Government of India established the Central Muga and their livelihood without undertaking monoculture plantations Eri Research & Training Institute, Jorhat under administrative should be traded as forestry activity. Therefore, no prior control of Central Silk Board is the only institute for providing permission of the Central Government under Forests research and developmental support for the growth of Muga (Conservation) Act, 1980 is required [11].

488 International Conference on Management, Economics and Social Sciences (ICMESS'2011) Bangkok Dec., 2011

In spite of significant improvement in production in 2009- [2] G.S. Arora and I.J. Gupta. Taxonomic studies of some of the Indian 10, gap between demand and supply is likely to remain in the non-mulberry silk moths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Memoirs of Zoological Survey of India 16:1-63, 1979. medium term horizon. The National Fibre Policy [3] A. Bhattacharya and R.S. Teotia. Conservation strategies of wild silk recommendations for the Indian Silk Industry are aimed at moths in the North-Eastern Region of India. International Journal of bridging the gap between and domestic supply both in terms Wild Silk Moths Silk (Special issue) 5: 311-313, 2000. of quality and quantity, and at reducing the country’s [4] A. Bhattacharya, B.K. Singh and P.K. Das. Biodiversity of wild silkmoths in Assam (North East India). Annals of Forestry 12: 208-216, dependence on import of raw silk, while maintaining a 2004. balance between the interests of all stakeholders in the value [5] K.P. Chinnaswamy, K.P. Sericulture biodiversity in India. pp. 54-61. chain, including farmers, reelers, twisters, weavers and value- In: M.K. Balla, S. Rayamajhi & N.M.B. Pradhan (eds.) Participatory added producers. These objectives are designed to be achieved Biodiversity Conservation in South Asia Region. Fonarem, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2001. through a set of Fiscal and Non Fiscal Measures, focused [6] P. Jay Prakash. Introduction to vanya silks and the recommended R&D efforts and field extension work. The policy package of practices for cocoon production in Vanya silks. Paper recommendations in this report are so designed to encourage presented in the Foundation Training Programme for CSB Scientists at sericulture activities, improve the quality and output of fibre NAARM, 4-18 January 2011. [7] M.S.Jolly, S.N. Chowdhury and S.K. Sen. Non- Mulberry Sericulture in by intensive R&D and extension activities, and to establish India. Central Silk Board, Bombay, 1975. economies of scale through modernisation and clusterization [8] M.S.Jolly, S.K. Sen, T.N. Sonowalkar & G.K. Prasad. Non mulberry of various pre- and post- cocoon activities, thereby promoting silk. Agriculture Service Bulletin 4: 1-24,1979. competitiveness of Indian Silk Industry in the global market. [9] L.N. Kakati and B.C Chutia. Diversity and ecology of wild sericigenous insects in Nagaland, India. Tropical Ecology. 50(1): 137- India has the unique distinction of producing the 146, 2009. commercial varieties of vanya silk. These varieties of silk [10] C. Lemaire and J. Minet. The Bombycoidea and their relatives. pp. fetch premium in the international markets. Therefore, 321-353. In: N.P. Kristensen (ed.) Lepidoptera, Moth and Butterflies. adequate thrust would be laid for development of this segment Volume 1: Evolution, Systematic and Biogeography. Walter de Gruyter, Inc., Hawthome, 1998. of the silk industry. Vanya silk would be promoted as Eco [11] Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India F.C. Silk by providing support for eco friendly production and Division, New Delhi (2004). Office Order under Forest (Conservation) processing of vanya silks in the form of subsidy/incentives, Act, 1980 No. F.No. 2-1/2003-FC (Pt II) dated 7th June 2004. [12] W.A. Nassig, R.E.J. Lempe and S. Kger. The Saturniidae of Sumatra especially by convergence with other developmental (Lepidoptera). Heterocera Sumatrana 10: 3-10, 1996. programmes. [13] R.S. Peigler. Wild silks of the world. American Entomologist 39L: 151- 163, 1993. [14] R.S. Peigler and S. Nauman. A Revision of the Silkmoth Genus Samia. V. CONCLUSION University of the Incarnate World, San Antonio, Texas, 2003. The ranges of biological resources including their genetic [15] J.C. Regier, M.C. Grant, C. Mitter, C.P. Cook, R.S. Peigler and R. Rougerie. Phylogenetic relationships of wild silkmoths (Lepidoptera: resources are renewable in nature or in similar ex- situ Saturniidae) inferred from four protein-coding nuclear genes. conservation with their proper management can fulfill human Systematic Entomology 10: 1-10, 2008. needs in larger extent. Thus, it is appropriate to treat as the [16] K.C. Singh and R. Chakrovorty. Seri-biodiversity of North Eastern India- an update. pp. 8-19. In: J.P.Srivastava, P.K. & K. Thangavelu. fundamental sources for sustainable livelihood to rural poor. (2005). Sericulture and Seri biodiversity. Associated Publishing Lack of proper inventorisation and monitoring of components Company, New Delhi, 2006. of seri-biodiversity resulted limited R&D efforts in vanya [17] K. Thangavelu. Wild sericigenous insects of India. A need for silkworm improvement for productivity enhancement. So, conservation. Wild Silkmoths 91: 71-77, 1991. [18] K. Thangavelu, K. and A. Borah. Occurrence of Antheraea mylitta developing and strengthening of in situ mechanism for seri- Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in North eastern India-distributional biodiversity conservation in forest as well as outside the significance. Current Science 55: 940, 1986. protected areas is the need of the hour. Further, a [19] K. Thangavelu, K., A.K. Bhagawati and A.K. Chakraborty. Studies on some wild sericigenous insects of North-Eastern India. Sericologia collaboration approach should be followed by the national 27:91-98, 1987. agencies and regional bodies/ state government for policy, [20] K. Thangavelu, K.V.S. Rao and V.K. Pandey. Wild silkmoths diversity planning, Research & Development for vanya silk and and conservation. International Journal of Wild Silk Moths 7:87-93, 2002 forestry to cover biodiversity in a general and seri-biodiversity in particular with an objective of poverty alleviation and S.A. Ahmed, B.Sc. (Agriculture) 1995, M.Sc. (Agriculture) 1997 from Assam sustainable socio-economic development. Agricultural University, Jorhat, INDIA. He has served more than 14 years in different capacities in five organizations under Government of India. He is awarded Young Scientist Award, Post Graduate Topper Award, M/s Agro ACKNOWLEDGMENT Industries Cash Award besides national and international fellowships. He has Thanks to Indian Council of Social Sciences Research successfully implemented ten R&D projects and provided technical support to more than 50 agribusiness projects. He represented India in APO programme (ICSSR), Govt. of India, New Delhi for financial support. on Supply Chain Management at Bangkok (2008) and at Hanoi, Vietnam (2009). His areas of interests are agribusiness management, supply chain REFERENCES management, industrial extension and product diversification in sericulture. He has been working as Scientist at Germplasm Conservation Centre, [1] S.A. Ahmed, L.C. Dutta and J.N.Khound. Biology and feeding CMER&TI, Central Silk Board,Chenijan, Jorhat, India. behavior of Cricula trifenestrata Helf. (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)- A pest of Som, Machilus bombycina King. J. Appl. Zool. Res. 7(2): 135- 136, 1996.

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