Tasar Value Chain Analysis Chhattisgarh

Tasar Value Chain Analysis

Chhattisgarh

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Central Silk Board (CSB)

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Study commissioned by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and PRADAN

Study conducted by Soumik Banerjee Sundarpahari Godda-814156, Jharkhand April 2016

Cover photo Top left - Raily, male and female moths at Topar, Bastar district Top right - Raily Pagoda at Lendra at Bastar district Bottom left - Spun yarn production at Bijna, Raigarh district Bottom right - Thigh reeled yarn and tasar fabric, Raigarh district

Printed and published by: Central Silk Board, Bangalore and PRADAN

Design of the study template and special inputs by: Dr. K. Sathyanarayana, Central Silk Board Md. Shamshad Alam, PRADAN

Disclaimer

Central Silk Board (CSB) or PRADAN do not make any warranty, either express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or any third party’s use or the results of such use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed of the information contained herein or represent that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the CSB/ PRADAN. While every effort has been made to ensure the correctness of data/information used in this report, neither the authors nor CSB/ PRADAN accept any legal liability for the accuracy or inferences drawn from the material contained therein or for any consequences arising from the use of this material. The information pertaining to facts and data presented in this study are dated as specified, and CSB/PRADAN are not responsible or liable for any misimpressions that may result from the reading of dated material.Text from this document can be quoted provided the source is acknowledged.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis

Chhattisgarh

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Central Silk Board (CSB)

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table of Contents

Chapter Chapter title Page number number Foreword 5 Executive Summary 6 1 Introduction 9 2 Methodology 14 3 Cocoon Production 15 4 Yarn Conversion 81 5 Value Chain Analysis 108 6 Conclusion and 124 Recommendations References 126 Acknowledgements 127 List of Respondents 128

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Foreword

It is heartening to note that the tasar culture is drawing attention from various stakeholders in recent times, with its potential to achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) defined by the United Nations, leading to creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities. One such major convergence initiatives is a project under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)-NTFP for the ‘Promotion of Large Scale Tasar Sericulture-based Livelihoods in the state of Chhattisgarh’ coordinated by the Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and co-funded by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, and implemented by the NGO, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) since October 2013.

The ‘Silk Value Chain’ concept considers the manner in which value is added along the chain, both to the product/service and the actors involved. From a sustainability perspective, ‘Silk Value Chain’ has more appeal, since it explicitly refers to internal and external stakeholders in the value-creation process viz., production, processing and marketing along with linkages amongst different nodes of the value chain. Further, developing a state-wise Value Chain Analysis (VCA) of the tasar sub- sector and devising an action plan for a suitable role of the intervening organisation across the major tasar states will help towards sustenance of the value chain players and activities.

I am happy that the much awaited silk value chain analysis studies have been taken up under these projects, which will bring out constraints and opportunities faced by the various stakeholders placed at different location/nodes of the chain to review current policies, identify limitations and barriers with focus on subsidies and pricing and suggest possible areas of convergence and the need for advocacy to facilitate the tasar sub-sector.

I appreciate the efforts of Dr. K. Sathyanarayana, Scientist-D & Project Coordinator, CSB, and Mr. Mohd. Shamshad Alam, Integrator-Tasar, PRADAN, in coordinating the study and bringing out this publication, ‘Tasar Value Chain Analysis: Chhattisgarh’. I also thank Mr. Soumik Banerjee who carried out the study and all the partners for their cooperation during the study. I strongly hope that this document will help the state government to review current policies and strengthen the areas of convergence towards the socio-economic upliftment of the participating families in the tasar sector.

I extend my best wishes for the successful implementation of the tasar projects for the benefit of the tribal communities of India.

Dr. H. Nagesh Prabhu, I.F.S Member Secretary Central Silk Board

Place: Bangalore Date: 01.05.2017

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Executive Summary

Documenting the current status of tasar cocoon and yarn production systems and the state of value chain in principal clusters, the Tasar Value Chain Analysis (VCA) for the state of Chhattisgarh aims to understand the scope and present limitations towards developing a robust action plan for the ongoing ‘Promotion of Large-scale Tasar Sericulture-based Livelihoods in Chhattisgarh’ project. The project falls under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) which is a subcomponent of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) of Ministry of Rural Development (Government of India).

The study was conducted in the principal tasar clusters of Bastar, Bilaspur and Raigarh districts.

The study involved a combination of field surveys and secondary literature review, where the field surveys formed the primary data for analysis while the secondary literature review provided an understanding of the tasar sub-sector as a whole. This involved discussions and interviews with key informants and resource persons and visits to villages, rearing plots, grainages, cooperative societies, village markets, weaver clusters, outlets, export houses, resource institutions, experts, practitioners, processing units, etc.

Based on the data, a value chain analysis and sub-sector mapping of activities of various actors was carried out to determine the value added and margins of different actors. A price spread analysis was carried out, from the rearing of basic disease-free laying (DFL) to the production of reeled yarn. The study then moved on to develop a constraint and SWOT analysis of the tasar sub-sector. Finally, based on the analysis and assessments, certain broad interventions have been suggested for the implementing organisation.

The study was commissioned by Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, and Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), the field implementing agency for MKSP project.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Key findings

Key findings of the value chain analysis are presented in Table E1 below:

Families engaged in tasar livelihoods 95,870 (2015-16) Average production 254 MT (2015-16) Principal production clusters Raigarh, Korba, Bilaspur and Bastar Eco-races Daba trivoltine (TV) and bivoltine (BV), Raily, Mandla Available plantations Bastar - 850 ha, Raigarh - 1,813 ha, State - 15,081 ha, PRADAN - 196 ha Basic seeds BV Bastar - 71,800, Raigarh - 1,80,000, PRADAN - 17,400 , State - 7.13 lakh Seed rearers Bastar - 300, R aigarh - 495, PRADAN - 152, State - 1,835 Seed cocoon production BV: Bastar - 8.77 lakh, Raigarh - 17.24 lakh, PRADAN - 2.67 lakh , State - ~ 1 crore Basic DFL : Seed cocoon (BV) Bastar - 12, Raigarh - 10, PRADAN - 15, State - 15 Commercial private grainage Bastar - 18, Raigarh - 62, PRADAN - 25, State - 293 Commercial DFLs BV: Bastar - 1.4 lakh, Raigarh - 4.4 lakh, PRADAN - 32,800, State - 14.53 lakh Commercial rearers Bastar - 800, Raigarh - 1,805, PRADAN - 399, State - 10,935 Commercial cocoons BV: Bastar - 11.44 lakh, Raigarh - 23.89 lakh, PRADAN - 7.23 lakh, State - 1.74 crore Commercial DFL : Cocoon ratio (BV) 1:22 Mean Lifting Price of DoS* per A - Rs 2.5, B - Rs 1.44, C - Rs 1.08, D - Rs 0.72, flimsy - Rs 0.30, pierced A - Rs 0.71, B - cocoon Rs 0.60, C - Rs 0.44, D - Rs 0.27 Cocoon to yarn conversion Daba Grade C MRTM (Motorised Reeling & Twisting Machine) reeled - 1,333 cocoons to 1 kg reeled yarn (RY) Flimsy machine spun 3,000 Daba cocoons to 1 kg spun yarn (SY) Families engaged in post-cocoon Bastar - ~ 55, Raigarh - ~ 500, Seoni-Champa - ~ 350 activities Reelers in DoS centres Bastar - 40, Raigarh - 290, State - 952 Yarn produced in principal DoS Bastar - 340 kg (RY), 188 kg (SY);Raigarh – 1,396 kg (RY), 2,993 kg (SY); centres State - 7,659 kg (RY) and 6,174 kg (SY) Denier (linear mass density of fibres) MRTM reeled - 70 to 80 denier Yardage in principal weaving clusters Bastar - ~ 7,500 m, Raigarh - ~ 1,50,000 m, Seoni-Champa - ~ 82,000 m Price of yarns Thigh reeled Daba - Rs 4,500-Rs 5,000/kg, thigh reeled Raily - Rs 4,000/kg, thigh reeled Ghicha Daba - Rs 2,100/kg, thigh reeled Raily Ghicha - Rs 1,750/kg, MRTM Daba reeled - Rs 3,700/kg, machine spun - Rs 1,900- Rs 2,000/kg Wage rate of reelers Thigh reelers - ~ 100/day Major markets Local Value chain - Pre-cocoon Input - 21%, rearing - 72%, marketing - 7% Net margin - Pre-cocoon Seed rearer - 21%, graineur - 2%, commercial rearer - 77% Value added - Pre-cocoon 36 (72 g) basic DFLs when reared yield 300 seed cocoons (at 86% hatching), which, when processed in the grainage, yields 50 (100 g) commercial DFLs, which, when further reared (at 86 % hatching), yield 1,568 commercial cocoons, out of which 1,333 (85%) are reelable. Apart from this, it yields 304 unreelable cocoons and 300 pierced cocoons and 445 g of peduncles. Value created - Rs 1,825 Value chain - Post-cocoon Input - 46%, processing - 54% Net margin - Post-cocoon Reelers - 85%, spinners - 15% Value added - Post-cocoon The 1,333 cocoons obtained are reeled into 1 kg of yarn by reelers generating 267 g of reeling waste; while 304 flimsy cocoons and 300 pierced cocoons are converted into 301 g of spun yarn, generating 30 g of spun waste and 139 g of peduncles. Value created - Rs 2,379 Employment generated per actor for Seed rearers - 200, graineurs - 50, commercial rearers - 600, reelers - 132, spinners - 100 kg reeled yarn (person days) 110 *Department of Sericulture

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Suggested interventions

Based on the findings, analysis and observations, the following interventions are suggested as presented in Table E2:

Pre-cocoon Post-cocoon  Ensure in-house quality plantation and infrastructure for  Make cocoons available in required elite seed production quantity and quality at a fair price  Ensure quality plantation and exclusivity for production of throughout the year, especially for nucleus seeds traditional weavers  Strengthen Pilot Project Centres (PPCs), Basic Seed  Provide incentives for traditional reelers Production Units (BSPUs) and adapted grainage owners to and weavers take up basic DFL production so the load on Basic Seed  Machines with high efficiency and multiple Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TCs) is reduced range of yarn production are required and focus on nucleus seeds is increased  Make maintenance and spare parts  Develop plantations and gap filling in forests areas; protect services available at fair rates and maintain old plantations  Techniques for waste utilisation and value  Conserve Raily habitats, maintain core zones, reduce over- addition are required exploitation by banning collection in April  Incentivise niche products based on Raily  Conserve and multiply the Mandla eco-race and Mandla yarns  Encourage eco-friendly rearing of tasar  Improve quality by grading yarn and  Empower the community to collect and procure Raily providing incentives cocoons at fair prices  Provide training, capacity building and  Provide inputs, including rearing kits, for commercial exposure on new technologies and best rearing practices  Increase DFL sale prices to motivate graineurs  Vegetable dyeing and blending  Develop a cadre of local service providers  Provide rat-proof cocoon storage facilities  Use friendly tools for pebrine detection in the villages  Nurture and empower community institutions  Build strong community institutions  Provide temporary cocoon storage structures in the villages  Supportive policies and incentives for  Uniformity in cocoon prices across states enterprises  Participatory and transparent grading system of cocoons  Increase outreach and service delivery of  Supportive policies towards habitat conservation welfare schemes  Demonstration and piloting of emerging and sustainable  Skill upgradation and motivation for youth technologies  Demonstration of emerging new  Convergence and collaboration with existing programmes technology in post-cocoon activities Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee  Develop and increase resource persons in Act (MGNREGA), Forest Department, etc. the post-cocoon sector  Increase staff strength through new recruitments, especially  Consumer awareness on tasar and real silk in BSM&TCs and other Central Silk Board (CSB) units

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

1. Introduction

1.1 Value chain analysis and study background

The term Value Chain Analysis (VCA) is used to refer to the overall group of economic agents (or the relevant activities of those agents) who contribute directly to the determination of a final product. Thus the chain encompasses the complete sequence of operations which, starting from the raw material, or an intermediate product, finishes downstream, after several stages of transformation or increases in value, at one or several final products at the level of the consumer More precisely, it is used to mean the group of agents who contribute directly to the production, then to the transformation and delivery to final market of a single agriculture product.

Value chain analysis is a concept of business management that was popularised by Michel Porter in 1985. Products pass through all activities of the chain in order, with the products gaining some value at each activity. The chain of activities gives the products more added value than the sum of added values of all the activities. The primary activities for commodity value chains include input logistics, operations (production), outbound logistics, marketing and sales and services. The support activities include administrative infrastructure, management, human resource management, technology and procurement. The costs and value drivers are identified for each value activity. This is depicted by Fig 1.1 below:

Fig 1.1 - Value Chain Analysis

The dominant idea behind the economic analysis of commodity chains is to lay out the overall activities of all the participants, or agents who contribute to the production and/or transformation of a given commodity. This involves:

• Identifying the outline of the chain and the position of the various agents within it, and

• Developing the economic accounts corresponding to the activities of the agents involved in the chain.

This reduction of activities and operations to their monetary value makes this economic technique a powerful tool of analysis. It allows for the use of commodity chain analysis to produce properly quantified and significant results, calculations at new levels of aggregation, sensitivity and simulation analyses, and interpret these results at the macroeconomic level.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

It has four interconnected steps (Fig 1.2): data collection and research, value chain mapping, analysis of opportunities and constraints, and vetting of findings with stakeholders with recommendations for future actions.

Fig 1.2 - Steps in value chain mapping

 Collection of data: This would include two parts; desk research (secondary literature, web-based research, earlier studies and policy documents, etc.) and field research (interviews, focused group discussions with stakeholder groups, observations of key processes of the different stakeholders with suitable case studies).  Value chain mapping: Value chain mapping is the process of developing a visual depiction of the basic structure of the value chain. A value chain map illustrates the way the product flows from raw material to end markets and presents how the activity functions. It is a compressed visual diagram of the data collected at different stages of the value chain analysis and supports the narrative description of the chain.  SWOT analysis: This uses the value chain framework as the lens to analyse the gathered data through. The framework is a useful tool to identify systemic chain-level issues rather than focus on activity-level problems. While interviews give the chance to gather information from individual stakeholders, the value chain framework helps to organise this information in such a way that the analysis moves from a stakeholder-level to a chain-level perspective. Using a tabular format, these factors of the value chain framework can be evaluated to establish opportunities for upgrading and the constraints to taking advantage of these opportunities.  Vetting findings: This uses value chain analysis through a structured event of presentation of reports to facilitate discussion with and among selected stakeholders. The event should include facilitated discussions, review and adjustments of the value chain map and a review of the SWOT analysis table and finally, the development of an action plan for the intervention organisation.

The present study aims to develop a value chain analysis (VCA) of tasar sub-sector and devise an action plan for the intervening organisation for the state of Chhattisgarh.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The main objectives of the study are:

 Develop value chain map for tasar sub-sector in Chhattisgarh, with primary focus on the stages till yarn conversion and strategic suggestions for the remaining nodes of value chain.  Identify major stakeholders and develop a cost analysis in the entire value chain in terms of production, processing and marketing along with linkages among different nodes of the value chain.  Understand the context of the stakeholders and the production status in the tasar sub-sector.  Identify the constraints and opportunities faced by the various stakeholders placed at different location/nodes of the chain.  Review current policies, identifying limitations and barriers with focus on subsidies and pricing, and suggest possible areas of convergence and need for advocacy to facilitate the sub-sector.  Review role and limitations of existing institutions and identify possible partnerships towards convergence.

 Identify factors that strengthen community institutions towards re-investments and creation of corpus.  Identify integration with other existing livelihood programmes contributing towards overall well-being of the families.

 Identify scope and intervention areas based on the ground realities.

1.2 Silk and tasar

Silk is a natural protein fibre composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larva to form cocoons. Silk is produced from a number of insects, but only the silk produced by the larva of silk moth has been used for textile manufacturing. Silk is named in legends, fables and folklores and its superiority has been recognised since time immemorial – the luxurious look, softness and sleekness and lustre of silk fabric have given silk the sobriquet ‘Queen of Fibres’.

Silk fabric was developed in ancient China; the earliest example is from 3,630 BCE where it was used to wrap the body of a child in Xingyan in the Henah province. There is a legend on how 14-year-old Chinese Empress Lei-Tzu (2,640 BCE) called the ‘Goddess of silkworms’, was once sitting under a mulberry tree in the Imperial garden when a cocoon dropped into her hot cup of tea and softened, unravelling a glistening thread from within. Silks were initially reserved for the emperors of China but spread gradually throughout Chinese culture and trade and on to many regions of Asia, both geographically and socially.

Archaeological discoveries in Harappa and Chanhudaro shows that silk from wild species were used in India during the Indus Valley Civilisation (2,450-2,000 BCE). It is suggested that Harappans either harvested wild silkworm cocoons or traded with people who did and had extensive knowledge on silk.

Currently, India is the second largest producer of silk in the world, after China; as per the International Sericulture Commission, 1.59 lakh MT of raw silk was produced globally in 2013, with China commanding an 81% share and India a 17% share at 26,538 MT. Between 2008 and 2013, the raw silk production increased at about 6% annually.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Silk export earnings in 2013-14 were Rs 2,481 crore (60% from fabrics). The silk industry provides employment to over 7.85 million people across 51,000 villages in the country.

The natural silks are classified into mulberry and non-mulberry; the non-mulberry silks are primarily known as Vanya or wild silks which primarily comprise of tasar (tropical and temperate), Muga, Eri and Anaphe. Tasar commands 10% share of the total raw silk produced in India and has shown an impressive growth of more than four times since 2008-09. Table 1.1 below shows the details of tasar production (in MT) in principal states and the trends of growth:

State 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Andhra Pradesh 13 10 4 1.33 0.64 0.46 NA NA Bihar 16 27 30 29.4 7.3 32 32.95 41 Chhattisgarh 147 161 168 293.8 384.9 384 225.39 254 Jharkhand 296 404 766 1,025.2 1,088.3 2,000 1,943.30 2,281 Madhya Pradesh 30.1 74 79.2 79.2 83 86 59 56 Maharashtra 4.2 8 12.3 12.3 9.75 10 18.97 21.50 Odisha 57 71 89.7 89.7 95 45 88.30 107 Uttar Pradesh 4.1 6 10.8 10.8 12.3 14 18.04 20.23 West Bengal 31.2 37 43.9 43.9 43.8 42 43.05 34 Total 598.6 798 1,203.9 1,585.7 1,724.9 2,613.46 2,429 2,814 Source: Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTR&TI), Ranchi; MIS quarterly reports of Departments of Sericulture NA: Not available

A belt of dense, humid deciduous Sal forests sprawling over central and eastern plateaus at an elevation of about 600 m, covering 7.7 million ha (CTR&TI, Ranchi), is the traditional home of tasar, primarily in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal. Minor amounts of temperate (oak) tasar are also produced in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland as well as Uttarakhand.

Tasar silk is secreted by several species of the genus Antheraea. India has eight species of this out of which Antheraea mylitta D has been exploited commercially and is the chief producer of tasar silk. It exists in the form of 20 eco-races of uni, bi and trivoltine nature. Tasar filaments have a golden lustre and are coarser, stronger and shorter than mulberry silk.

Jharkhand has 81% of the total share with a production of 2,281 MT; the state has shown an impressive growth of more than six-fold from around 300 MT in 20080-09. Chhattisgarh is a distant second at 254 MT, with 9% share, followed by Odisha.

Even though production has greatly increased, the demand continues to exceed supply by about 5,000 MT which is primarily obtained from China.

Tasar rearing is one of the traditional supplementary livelihoods of indigenous communities across the forested regions of Chhattisgarh; Champa and Raigarh have traditionally been tasar weaving clusters since time immemorial. About 95,870 families are engaged in tasar sericulture in the state.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

1.3 Area profile

Chhattisgarh (translating as ‘36 forts’) is one of the youngest states of India. Constituted in November 2000, it is located in the heart of India, sharing its borders with six states – Uttar Pradesh to the north, Odisha to the east, Jharkhand to the north-east, Madhya Pradesh to the west and north-west, Maharashtra to the southwest, and Telangana to the south-east. Chhattisgarh’s geographical area measures 1.35 lakh sq km with a population of 25.5 million; it is the 10th largest state of India and its 17th most populated state. The northern and southern parts of the state are hilly, while the central part is a fertile plain. The highest point in the state is the Bailadila Range. Deciduous forests of the Eastern Highlands Forests roughly cover 44% of the state.

In the north lies the edge of the great Indo-Gangetic plain. The Rihand River, a tributary of the Ganges, drains this area. The eastern end of the Satpura Range and the western edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau form an east-west belt of hills that divide the Mahanadi River basin from the Indo-Gangetic plain.

The central part of the state lies in the fertile upper basin of the Mahanadi River and its tributaries. This area has extensive rice cultivation. The upper Mahanadi basin is separated from the upper Narmada basin to the west by the Maikal Hills (part of the Satpuras) and from the plains of Odisha to the east by ranges of hills. The southern part of the state lays on the Deccan plateau, in the watershed of the Godavari River and its tributary, the Indravati River. The Mahanadi is the chief river of the state.

Chhattisgarh has a tropical climate, characterised by heat and humidity owing to its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and its dependence on the monsoons. Temperatures in the summer can reach 45 °C (113 °F). The monsoon season starts in late June and lasts till October; Chhattisgarh receives an average of 1,292 mm (50.9 inches) of rain. Winter usually lasts from November to January, when the weather is pleasant with low temperatures and less humidity.

Chhattisgarh has 27 districts and five divisions; it has a literacy rate of 71% and sex ratio 964. About 31% of the population constitutes the Schedule Tribes and 12% the Schedule Castes. Eighty per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture; the state has a net sown area of 4.28 million ha. The main crop cultivate is rice which covers 77% of the net sown area, a fact that has earned Chhattisgarh the sobriquet, ‘Rice Bowl of India’. Other crops include millets, pulses and oilseeds. Twenty per cent of the arable land is irrigated and the rest are rain-fed. Forests occupy 41.33% of the total geographical area in the state and are rich in products such as tendu patta, mahua, tamarind, honey, tasar and lac.

Chhattisgarh has almost all major mineral deposits; it has the highest output of coal in the country and the second highest reserves. It stands third in iron ore production and first in tin production. There are abundant reserves of dolomite, limestone and bauxite. Other minerals include corandum, garnet, quartz, marble, alexandrite and diamond. It produces 20% of the cement in the country. Table 1.2 presents the administrative and revenue units of Chhattisgarh:

Area Population Divisions Districts Blocks Panchayats Villages 1.35 lakh sq km 25.5 million 5 27 146 9,655 19,465

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

2. Methodology

The study involved a combination of field surveys and secondary literature review. The field surveys formed the primary data for analysis while the secondary information provided understanding of the sub-sector as a whole. Due to the nature of the study, no structured formats were used and instead, qualitative and quantitative investigative tools with checklists for different stakeholders were used. This provided meaningful insights into how the rearers, graineurs, traders, reelers, weavers and service providers perceive the issues and deal with specific solutions. The exercise involved discussions with key informants and resource persons and visits to villages, rearing plots, grainages, Tasar Vikas Samitis (TVS), village markets, weaver clusters, outlets, resource institutions, experts, practitioners, processing units, etc.

Table 2.1 below shows the different stakeholders visited and interviewed during the study: Stakeholders Locations Seed rearers Madhota, Chaparbhanpuri, Bade Gadewand, Jharumar, Gondiapal, Cherapur (Bastar district), Paroda (Kondagaon district), Sagarpali and Amaghat (Raigarh district) Graineurs Sagarpali and Tamnar (Raigarh district), Chaparbhanpuri (Bastar district) Commercial rearers Kamarga, Katakalia, Sagarpali, Amaghat, Piprahi (Raigarh) Kirna (Mungeli), Bhasajhal (Bilaspur), Madhota, Cherapur, Gondiapal, Bade Gadewand Plantations Suliaguda, Bade Gadewand, Jharumar, Chaparbhanpuri (Bastar), Kirna (Mungeli), Amaghat (Raigarh) Reelers Kosampalli, Kotra (Raigarh), Seoni-Champa (Champa-Janjgir) Spinners Dharampura (Bastar), Bhikharimal, Bijna, Kotra (Raigarh), Seoni-Champa (Champa-Janjgir) Weavers Jagdalpur (Bastar), Raigarh, Sarangarh, Chandrapur, Tarpali (Raigarh) and Seoni-Champa (Champa-Janjgir) Institutions, NGOs and Department of Sericulture (DoS) in Raipur, Bastar and Raigarh; Regional Tasar Research government Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur; Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation (BTSSO), Bilaspur; departments Central Tasar Silkworm Seed Station (CTSSS), Kargi Road, P4 unit-Kota; Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TCs) in Bastar, Pendari, Pali and Boirdadar; PRADAN in Bastar and Raigarh; Kosa Cooperative, Jagdalpur; Kosa Vikas Samitis (KVS) in Lendra, Topar, Jharumar and Sagarpali; self-help groups (SHGs) in Kosampalli and Bhikarimal Entrepreneurs Seoni-Champa, Raigarh

The main tools used during the study were key informant interviews, focused group discussions (FGDs) and validation (with farmers), observations and assessments with semi-structured probing guidelines, and checklists. Along with this, secondary data was collected from previous studies, books and resource organisations.

Plate 2.1 A & B - FGDs with KVS at Lendra (Bastar) and SHG members at Kosampalli (Raigarh)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3. Cocoon Production

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3.1 Background and history

Chhattisgarh is the second highest tasar (also called kosa) producing state, after Jharkhand, producing an estimated 254 MT of raw silk (9% of the total national production) in 2015-16. Tasar sericulture is an important supplementary occupation across the state, covering Daba 95,870 families across 580 villages in 26 districts in 2015-16. The principal districts for tasar are Raigarh, Korba, Bilaspur and Bastar, which cover about 70% of the total area. As per the Directorate of Raily Sericulture, Chhattisgarh, tasar activities in 2014-15 generated

2,84,837 person days of employment with a production of 5.58 crore Fig 3.1 - Tasar areas in Chhattisgarh cocoons and 13,883 kg of yarns.

Tasar rearing has always been one of the important traditional occupations of indigenous communities in different parts of the erstwhile princely states of Bastar, Raigarh, Sakti, Sarangarh, Udaipur, Jashpur and Bilaspur district of the Central Provinces and Berar in British India.

In Bastar division, wild tasar cocoons were collected for extracting silk threads which were used for fishing lines, decorating wooden combs, as a fastener for wooden knives and arrowheads, decorating the village deity or ‘Mother God’, etc. In Dantewada and Bijapur districts, tasar cocoons were collected by men from the ‘Bison Horn Maria’ tribal community in September, from Sal (Shorea robusta) and Saja (Terminalia tomentosa) trees. When climbers were unable to reach them up in the trees, they used long bamboo poles with a piece of bamboo fastened at an acute angle to serve as a hook. In 1938, Grigson reports that the Marias got Rs 3 for every 1,000 cocoons collected, from the Koshta weavers who bought the cocoons from them.

Plate 3.1 – A Maria comb Plate 3.2 - Village Mother, Grigson (1938)

In the princely states of Raigarh, Jashpur and Udaipur (part of Raigarh district now), tasar cocoons were reared on Saja (Terminalia tomentosa) trees in the forests. Erstwhile Bilaspur district (Champa, Bilaspur, Khokra, Chhuri, Akaltara and Baloda), Sarangarh, Sakti and the Raigarh princely states as well as Jagdalpur (Bastar) had thriving silk spinning and weaving industries.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3.2 Races and traditional rearing practices

Chhattisgarh has three major tasar eco-races: Raily which is a wild eco-race of Bastar division, Baraf or Mandla found naturally growing across Raigarh and Janjgir-Champa districts, and Daba which is a semi-domesticated eco-race of Antherea mylitta (Drury).

Raily is the primary eco-race of the Bastar division since time immemorial. The origin of the name ‘Raily’ is probably in the word ‘Rally’, since the Maria Gonds and other communities would go into the forests in groups, beating drums and other instruments to frighten off the wild animals and harvest the cocoons. Raily is endemic to the Bastar plateau and feeds primarily on Sal (Shorea robusta) leaves. Raily cocoons are about 30% bigger with a shell thickness which is thrice and a shell weight which is twice that of Daba; its production influences the market rates of Daba cocoons. Raily cocoons produce one and a half times more silk and have a longer filament length. However, this eco-race shows lower egg fertility while its filament has a higher denier (linear mass density of fibres) than Daba. All attempts to domesticate the eco-race have not been successful and thus, being subjected to natural conditions and restricted to a particular habitat have compelled the eco-race to increasingly dwindle in numbers over the years.

Table 3.1 shows the comparison between the Raily and Daba eco-races:

Eco-race Shell Shell Shell Shell Peduncle Reeled silk Filament Reelability Denier length width thickness weight (g) length weight/1,000 length (%) (cm) (cm) (mm) (cm) cocoons (kg) (m) Raily 5.24 3.65 0.92 2.75 - 3.22 3.4 1.18 992 7.73 10.70 Daba 4.82 2.96 0.34 1.28 - 1.74 6.5 0.760 754 6.53 9.07 trivoltine (TV)

Mandla is a wild eco-race found in the forests of central and north Chhattisgarh (Janjgir-Champa district). Its predominant host plant is the Ber (Zizhyphus mauritiana) tree. The cocoons are of a smaller size as compared to Raily or Daba, but they have a higher shell thickness and reelability than Daba or Raily; the filament length is less but they have a lower denier. These cocoons are also known as Baraf (ice), since children who collect the cocoons from the forests barter them for locally made popsicles. The major crop comes in February, when it is collected from the Ber trees by children grazing cattle.

Daba BV is a semi-domesticated bivoltine race originating from Jharkhand, which was introduced in Bastar division for commercial rearing. It has historically been reared in the forests of central and north Chhattisgarh since ancient times.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.3 - Different eco-races (L-R) Raily, Daba BV and Mandla (Baraf) cocoons

As the field implementing agency under the MKSP project, PRADAN is promoting the Raily Conservation Programme in Bastar district and for Daba BV in Raigarh and Balarampur districts.

As per the ‘Monograph of Silk Industries in Central Provinces’ by F C Dewar (1901), tasar silkworms were reared by the Chamar (tanner), Gandas (weaver) and Kewat (boatmen or fishermen) communities. The cocoons were collected by Baigas and other hill tribes during the monsoons from the Saja trees in the forests. In August, the tasar rearers (Kewats) would visit the Baiga huts in groups of seven or eight to purchase the cocoons.

Once a sufficient stock was obtained, they returned to their villages and carried out rearing of the cocoons on well-pollarded Saja trees, covering eight to 10 acres (Kosa Badi) of forests in around the village. In the month of September, the cocoons were tied to strings which were suspended from one tree to the other; once the moths emerged and paired, the males flew away while the females were kept in leaf warps of Palas (Butea monosperma) or Sal for laying of the eggs. Hundred eggs by each female moth was considered to be a good crop turn-out. The eggs were stored in cloth and incubated in the huts for hatching which took place in eight to 10 days. The worms were released on Saja trees to feed on the leaves and would be transferred from one tree to another as they devoured the leaves on each tree.

The rearers would continuously stay in the Kosa Badi (plantation) for the entire duration in makeshift huts. During the rearing period, abstinence was practiced with no shaving, bathing or drinking of alcohol, while for food, only rice and salt were consumed; women were not allowed near the plantation. Birds and other predators along with unfavourable dry weather were major detriments. In about three months (by November), the crop was ready for harvest.

The final crop was sold during the weekly haat (markets) to the weavers or Koshtas who would spin yarn from the cocoons, followed by weaving. It was reported that 1,000 cocoons would provide enough yarn for 11 m of thin cloth usually woven. In 1876, it was estimated that about 80 lakh cocoons were produced in Bilaspur district of Central Provinces. The price for a maund (40 kg) of cocoons in 1876 was Rs 40. ‘The Imperial Gazetteer of India Vol-8’ (1908) reports some plots of government forest lands being specially set aside for tasar rearing.

Raily cocoons were collected from the forest in August-September by the Maria Gond community in Bastar division as discussed earlier.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.4 - Baiga settlement, Russel (1916)

3.3 Host plants

Sal (Shorea robusta) is the primary host plant for Raily cocoons, while Saja or Asan (Terminalia tomentosa) is the primary host plant for Daba rearing in the region. Sal (Shala, Sakhua) is a large tree native to the Indian subcontinent; it is often the dominant tree in the forest. Its growth is moderate to slow and it can attain heights of 30 m to 35 m and a trunk diameter of up to 2 m to 2.5 m. The leaves are 10 cm to 25 cm long and 5 cm to 15 cm wide. In wetter areas, the tree is evergreen; in drier areas, it is dry-season deciduous, shedding most of the leaves between February and April and leafing out again in April and May. Sal covers 13% of the forest plant community in the country and is also the secondary host plant for Daba eco-race. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have 36.38 lakh ha of Sal forests. However, a higher presence of tannin and phenol and lower moisture is detrimental to Daba and other eco-races.

Raily is endemic to the Bastar plateau (Nangrur, Darbha, Tokapal, Tongpal, Narainpur, Kondagaon and Geedam regions) which is home to moist peninsular Sal forests and valley Sal forests which are predominant near streams with alluvial sandy loam and deep soils. Due to favourable soil and topographical conditions and available moisture, the trees are more dense and of higher quality in the area, especially in the Kanger valley.

Plantations of Sal have not been very successful, so natural forest stands are the only largescale viable option for Raily rearing. One of the most successful artificial regeneration systems were the Taungya (meaning ‘hill cultivation’ in Burmese) plantation techniques based on the shifting cultivation systems of Pegu (in Myanmar). It was developed by Sir Dietrich Brandies, the first Inspector General of Forests, in the 1890s in north Bengal.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Under this system, land is prepared for tree planting by growing agricultural crop alongside the trees for one to three years until the tree canopy (shade) becomes dense, precluding further agricultural cropping which is moved to a different area and the cycle repeated there. Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur, which is working on Raily conservation, have attempted Sal plantations on their campus with some success.

Plate 3.5 - A Sal forest and (right) a Sal tree

Plate 3.6 - Saja in the forests of Bastar

Daba is reared primarily on a Saj/Saja (Asan) tree which is a large deciduous tree with a clean bole and full crown. It is one of the most common Indian forest trees and attains a girth of 12 feet (3.65 m) or more and towers above 100 feet (30.4 m) in favourable clayey soils; its growth is stunted in dry rocky ground and other unfavourable conditions. Asan is one of the important companion species in the southern tropical moist deciduous Sal forests represented in the Bastar division.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In traditional tasar rearing fields, the tree is extensively pollarded; the species demands light and is suppressed in shade. Medium-size trees coppice and pollard well, but the coppicing power of trees with girth above 4 feet (1.22 m) is poor. Coppicing of shoots is high in April and May as compared to July-September. Seventy per cent of the trees show coppice shoots of 1 to 9 per stool.

Natural reproduction occurs in abundance of light, a fair degree of soil moisture, bare ground and loose soil with absence of sodden grass and weeds. Plantations can be established through direct sowing of seeds, though transplanting from nursery gives better survival and growth.

As per the numbers in 2013-14, there were 10,748 ha of plantation out of which 7,388 ha (69%) were available for rearing. Apart from this, 4,333 ha of forests are additionally used for rearing. About 4,000 ha of plantations were developed under the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) supported by Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) during 1997-2005 (extended till 2007); the total outlay of the project was Rs 117.16 crore of which 55% (Rs 64.87 crore) was provided as assistance in the form of loan. This project was implemented in seven districts, namely Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir, Raigarh, Jashpur, Sarguja and Koriya. Currently, 2,548 ha of the JBIC plantations (64%) is available for rearing. Additionally, the plantation was extended to 978 ha and 1,321.5 ha, out of which 1,351.5 ha are available for rearing. About 78% of departmental plantations comprising 4,449.3 ha are available for rearing.

One of Chhattisgarh’s unique features is the presence of a large number of tasar rearing centres/farms with well-maintained captive plantations. In March 2015, there were 12 Basic Seed Farms (Dantewada, Korba, Raigarh and Surguja districts) and 69 Pilot Project Centres (PPCs) or Tasar Field Research Stations across all 27 districts of the state.

Raily cocoons are harvested using long bamboo poles fixed with an angled piece of bamboo or a sickle acting as a hook at one end, while the Daba cocoons are harvested using traditional sickles. However, adapted rearers had received secateurs for pruning. Light pruning during the harvesting of cocoons is done in a number of villages (especially in Bastar). Rearers reported of having conflicts with the Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) over the cutting of branches and clearing undergrowth and other trees for tasar rearing. In Paroda village (Kondagaon block) and Madhota (Bastar district), the conflict between FPC members and tasar rearers were quite evident during the study. The conflict was attributed as the reason for periodic pollarding of the host trees not being done in the forests, which is also the reason nylon nets are not used since it is not possible to set them up between large trees.

Most of the villages covered by the study carry out rearing in the forests; in Jharumar village (Bastar district), Amaghat village (Tamnar block, Raigarh district) and Piprahi village (Lailunga block, Raigarh district), rearing is done both in forests and on plantations. Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna) is the species of choice for plantations owing to its lower gestation period for initiating rearing as compared to Saja.

Gall infection is rare in the forests; however, on the state farm with Arjuna plantations at Kirna (Mungeli district), the infection was widespread with no control measures available. Adapted rearers in Madhota village (Bastar district) and Amaghat village (Raigarh district) reported spraying with 3% solution of rogor (dimethoate), obtained from the Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSM&TC) or Department of Sericulture (DoS) on grant, even though the gall prevalence was low.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

As per DoS, Raipur, in 2013-14, 1,199 ha of new plantations were developed of which 251 ha (21%) is available for rearing.

Bastar district has about 150 ha of captive plantation with the tasar farms and 700 ha of gap filling in the forests. The plantations have been taken up under Departmental Extension plans and Catalytic Development Programme (CDP) with convergence support for fencing/cattle proof trench (CPT) and water harvesting trench through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In the State Sericulture Departmental Farm at Chaparbhanpuri (Tokapal block, Bastar district), there are 69 ha of Arjuna plantations established in 1982, under the Inter State Tasar Project (ISTP) on leased forest land. Currently, 12 member self- help groups (SHGs) are involved in rearing Daba BV (bivoltine) crops supported by Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur, under Institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP).

In Jharumar village (Bakhawand block, Bastar district), the Forest Department had established Arjuna plantation on 10 ha of land in 1995. Earlier, there were 10 members of the Village Forest Committee (VFC) engaged in rearing, but now only five are actively involved. The group has been rearing on the plantation for the last 15 years, producing both crops of Daba BV with support from BSM&TC, Bastar.

Plate 3.7 - Arjuna plantation at Jharumar village (Bastar)

Under the CDP, in Suliaguda village (Jagdalpur block, Bastar district), new plantations with 90,000 saplings of Arjuna trees across 50 ha have been initiated in July 2015. The plantations have been done on previously encroached forest land to support rearing for the villages of Suliaguda and Gilori which would be first generation tasar rearing villages. The nursery was initiated in March 2015 ion two acres of land with irrigation from a rented borewell. The seeds were obtained from identified plus trees in Chitrakoot (~40 km from the area). The seedlings were developed on 6 x 8 inch polybags and transplanted in pits measuring 6 x 6 feet, with additives of urea, FYM, IFFCO NPK, gamaxene (benzene hexachloride-BHC) and folidol (methyl parathion). Apart from this, foliar spray of urea and rogor (dimethoate) has been done for enhancing vegetative growth and controlling gall infection.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

A cattle proof trench (CPT) measuring six feet wide and five feet deep was constructed using JCB machines, while water harvesting structures and bunds were constructed through the Watershed Mission. Currently, four guards are engaged in protection duty at a daily wage of Rs 159 under MGNREGA.

In Bade Gadewand village (Bastar district), a 4 ha Arjuna plantation was established in 2001 on revenue land by DoS. Later in 2005, it was redeveloped and since 2008, rearing is being carried out by four families. However, about 4,000 plants were lost due to land acquisition for the upcoming National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) mega steel plant at Nagarnar; the land was acquired against the will of the villagers who did not want to give it away. In Cherapur village (Bastar district), the Kosa Vikas Samiti (KVS) have taken up Arjuna plantation on 15 ha of which 10 ha were reported to have been completed. However, members who have been working on the plantation are yet to be paid and have thus have stopped working, preferring to work under other schemes where daily wages are paid on the spot.

Plate 3.8 - Plantation at Suliaguda (Bastar district)

Plate 3.9 A - Plantation at Suliaguda (Bastar district) Plate 3.9 B - Plantation at Bade Gadewand (Bastar district)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In Kirna village (Patharia block, Mungeli district), a 1990-mulberry farm was converted to 25 acres of Arjuna and Saja plantation (15,000 Saja and 7,000 Arjuna) in 2000. A group of 14 women rearers have been promoting tasar here since 2003. They are Adapted Seed Rearers of BSM&TC, Bilaspur from whom they receive DFLs and rearing inputs. However, the group has not received any fertilisers from the DoS for the last two years or any rogor (dimethoate) for gall infection treatment. Since there is no CPT on the farm, grazing by stray animals is always a risk; fire has also destroyed 5,000 plants. The group also reported that there are many Babool (Acacia nilotca) trees where a large number of birds reside which are a constant threat to the worms in the absence of nylon nets. In Amaghat village (Tamnar block, Raigarh district), an Arjuna plantation taken up in 2014, was destroyed by fire.

Plate 3.10 - Arjuna plantations at Kirna (Mungeli district)

Plate 3.11 - Plantation at Amaghat (Raigarh district) Plate 3.12 - Plantation at Lailunga block (Raigarh district)

In Piprahi village (Lailunga block, Raigarh district), gap filling with Saja and Arjuna trees was taken up on a forest patch of 22 ha; a community group of 17 members have been rearing Daba BV in three sub-groups since the last 14 years. Under the MKSP project, PRADAN has been promoting tasar with the group currently. Each member has received secateurs from both PRADAN and DoS.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3.4 Elite seed

In 2010, a P4 station was set up in Kota (Bilaspur district) for multiplication of elite seeds obtained from Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTR&TI), Ranchi. The primary purpose of the unit is to make elite seeds of Daba TV from CTR&TI available in required quantities with zero per cent pebrine to the P3 unit at Central Tasar Silkworm Seed Station (CTSSS), Kota. The idea is to maintain high fecundity in multiplying the primary breeder stock. The current staff at the unit comprises of two scientists, a technical assistant (TA) and four time scale farm workers (TSFM).

Currently, the unit has received 50 DFLs of two elite lines DTS and DT-12 from CTR&TI (derived from parent Daba TV lines from Boirdadar and Pali). These are being multiplied to 100 DFLs through recurrent selections with high fecundity and higher shell weight. Earlier (in 2010), parent lines were obtained from Chennur (Telangana), Bastar as well as BSM&TC, Pali, and CTSSS, Kota. The unit has a target to supply 400 DFLs to the P3 unit at CTSSS, Kota.

Apart from this, the unit is also conducting trials of CTR-14 line of Daba BV, though the dedicated P4 unit for Daba BV is at Chakradharpur in Jharkhand state.

Despite the unit being operational since the last five years, no plantation has been allocated by the DoS so far. Currently, the trials are being carried out in the Sarka forests about 15 km from Kota. There are plans to provide 20 ha of plantations in 2016, in the Arpa forest patch. The forest patch where rearing is currently being undertaken is highly unsuitable for the purpose, since the trees are scattered and have a high presence of predators. Since it is impossible to set up the large nylon nets, smaller rectangular frame nets are used to cover the branches; also, there is no safeguards against nearby villagers who come to collect fuelwood. There are no provisions for addition of lime and bleaching powder during rearing. Additionally, there are operational difficulties such as non-availability of conveyance allowance (currently, the staff travel by train and then walk 4 km to reach the site) and presence of wild boars and snakes.

Earlier, unskilled seasonal labourers were employed for the rearing operations at a daily wage of Rs 200. Since last year, four TSFM from Regional Extension Centre (REC), Khatghora, have joined here at a monthly compensation of Rs 12,000.

Table 3.2 shows the results obtained from trials of trivoltine (TV) and bivoltine (BV) crops:

Daba DFLs First crop Second Third crop crop DFL:cocoon ratio TV 200 20 30 40 BV 50 30 40 --

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.13 - Grainage and small nets at P4 unit, Kota

In 2014, a grainage with 1,100 cocoons was undertaken in the unit’s rented building which is an old structure that used to be a cinema theatre, with no coolers or rat proofing. Mud pots filled with water are used to keep temperature under control.

Primary issues of concern in elite seed multiplication are:

 Lack of plantations in proximity to the unit and availability of proper inputs and equipment for rearing  Lack of proper infrastructure and equipment for conducting grainage and other research activities in the unit

3.5 Nucleus seed

P3 unit at Central Tasar Silkworm Seed Station (CTSSS) is located at Kargi Road in Bilaspur district. It was established in 2006 after the original station at Lakha (Raigarh district) was submerged by the reservoir of a dam. The CTSSS’ primary function is production of nucleus seed of Daba BV and TV to replenish the Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSMTCs), State PPCs (Pilot Project Centres) and other sister units. The unit premises are currently located on a space leased from the Irrigation Department, with 29 ha of plantations leased from the Forest Department. The unit will shortly move to a new building equipped with all amenities and equipment which has been constructed at a cost of Rs 3.9 crores.

Among its assets and infrastructures, the unit has ten grainage houses (with 50,000-cocoon capacity), testing room, oviposition room, washing room, egg drying room and a cold store, along with office, godowns, conference room, store, etc.

The unit has staff strength of 10 and about 30 adapted seed rearers (ASRs) who are mainly engaged in Daba BV rearing, while Daba TV rearing is carried out on the leased plantation.

Under departmental rearing, 13,600 DFLs are taken in TV-1 and 25,000 in TV-2 and TV-3 which are reared on the 29 ha plantation. Seasonal labour is employed for the rearing for 49 days in a year at a daily wage of Rs 204 with 12% deduction for Employee Provident Fund (EPF). The major disincentive for the labourers is the rule that they can be employed again only six months after the first (previous) contract.

Table 3.3 gives details of production of nucleus DFLs and seed cocoons from 2012-15:

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Year Seed cocoons produced Cocoons processed Nucleus DFLs 2012-13 4,65,292 3,24,095 68,550 1:4.73 2013-14 5,87,449 3,70,328 77,200 1:4.80 2014-15 8,09,224 4,17,489 86,145 1:4.85

Under the Central Seed Sector Scheme, the ASRs of P3 (CTSSS) and P2 (BSM&TCs), along with training, also receive inputs such as urea (150 kg), single superphosphate (50 kg) and muriate of potash (50 kg), 900 kg of lime, 100 kg of bleaching powder, 1.5 litres (three doses) of rogor (dimethoate) for a hectare of rearing plot. Apart from this, lavex (800 g slaked lime+150 g bleaching powder+50 g turmeric powder) is also recommended for broadcasting at 5 kg/1,000 DFLs for control of virus and pebrine.

The ASRs also receive secateurs, tarpaulin, torch, bucket, tub, nylon net, polythene sheet, old newspapers, tray and brush as rearing equipment. Although there is no crop insurance, the rearers are covered under life and health insurance schemes. Even though the DFLs are provided by CTSSS and the cocoons are also bought back, on paper, it takes place through the DoS- decided rates of Re 1/DFL and procurement of cocoons as per grade.

The production cost of each nucleus DFL comes to Rs 65 to Rs 70, while it is sold at Rs 6 which is subsidised for the rearers at Re 1 from the DoS.

The main issues of concern in nucleus seed rearing are:

 Inadequate and good quality plantation, unavailability of farm block plantation  No demarcated seed zone  Poor protection of plantation; fencing along with watch and ward is necessary  Chawkie rearing along with required inputs not being complied with, thus, pushing the quality of cocoons down  Few farm labourers available due to the non-renewability rule of six months duration (as explained above)  No provisions for permanent farm labour

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.14 - Cocoons at a grainage in CTSSS, Kargi Road

3.6 Basic seed

The Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organization (BTSSO) was established in May 1998 with the objective to strengthen the tasar sub-sector by vitalising a three-tier seed multiplication system. Its primary objectives are the production of nucleus and basic tasar silkworm seed by adopting quality parameters, training of farmers and graineurs, monitoring disease and extending technical help to state governments. It is headquartered at Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, with 23 nested units, including a Central Tasar Silkworm Seed Station (CTSSS) at Kargi-Kota (Chhattisgarh) and 22 Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TCs) in nine tasar producing states.

The basic structure of seed production in tasar is shown below in Fig 3.2 below:

Breeder stock - elite seed Elite cocoons (CTR&TI, Ranchi and P4 units)

Nucleus seed Nucleus cocoons (CTSSS & BSM&TC) ARs/DRs

Basic seed (BSM&TC and Seed cocoons PPC, SMC) ARs/DRs

Commercial seed (PPCs, NGOs, private Commercial rearers

graineurs, etc.)

Reelable cocoons

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TC) are primarily involved in the production of basic seed for tasar operations in the host state as well as other tasar producing states in the country. It also produces some amount of nucleus seed based on national and state requirements. Basic seeds are also multiplied at the State Pilot Project Centres (PPCs). All BTSSO institutions are under the jurisdiction of Central Silk Board (CSB), while the PPCs are under Department of Sericulture (DoS). The second crop of Daba BV and third crop of Daba TV are preserved for production of DFLs for BV-1 and TV-1 & TV-2 crops, respectively.

Fig 3.3 below shows the production of DFLs between 2006 -07 to 2014-15:

DFL production

39.12 38.29

20 37.88

35.16

35.08

32.1

34.05

33.26

33.13

32.59

31.79

32.07

31.91

30.01

29.88

25.44

24.22 18.94

DFL no. in lakh 10 2006-07 2007- 08 2008 - 09 2009 - 10 2010 -11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Target Achiev. No (Lakh No)

In 2014-15, BTSSO produced 35.16 lakh basic DFLs, achieving 92% of its annual target; in the last decade, the production has increased by 45% while the targets have also doubled. They have exceeded the target allocated for DFL supply in the last decade, e.g. in 2014-15, they achieved 34.33 lakh DFLs for a target supply of 32.31 lakh DFLs.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In 2014-15, 29% of the DFLs were utilised in Chhattisgarh itself, followed by Jharkhand and Odisha, as presented in Table- 3.4 below:

A little more than half of the total production is that of nucleus DFLs, while 59% of the basic DFLs and 68% of the nucleus DFLs are that of Daba BV. Jharkhand commands the highest share of basic and nucleus BV DFLs, while Madhya Pradesh takes the major share of basic TV DFLs and Chhattisgarh for TV nucleus DFLs.

Table 3.5 shows the production of nucleus DFLs from BTSSO over the years.

Year Target Achievement DFLs in lakh 2010-11 1.91 4 2011-12 2.39 2 2012-13 5.52 4.4 2013-14 5.93 5.95 2014-15 21.16 17.61

As can be observed, while production has gone up four times in the last five years, the targets have also increased by 11 times; in 2014-15, the production of nucleus DFLs was 17.61 lakh which was 83% of the target.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 3.6 below shows the details of adapted seed rearing:

While ASRs have almost doubled and the DFL supplies increased 1.7 times, the cocoon to DFL ratio is on the decline at 40 in 2014-15, down from 48 in 2010-11 and over 50 in 2011-13.

In 2014-15, BTSSO have adopted 24 PPCs in different states with optimum DFL to DFL ratio achieved in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The same year, BTSSO also adapted 126 private graineurs (target was 117) supplying 6.78 lakh DFLs with an income of Rs 17,924. In the last decade, adapted private graineurs have gone up from 46 to 126, while DFL production has increased by five times.

Table 3.7 below shows the status of adoption of private graineurs:

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 3.8 presents details of 379 trainings conducted by BTSSO under Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) in 2014-15 against a target of 1,000:

Course Trainees Target Tasar seed production 194 200 Tasar seed cocoon production 160 400 Disease Containment 25 400

Disease containment and cocoon production trainings have been comparatively fewer as compared to seed production.

Table 3.9 below shows the brushing schedule for Daba BV and Daba TV crops in different parts of Chhattisgarh:

Region TV-1 BV-1 TV-2 BV-2 TV-3 Korba/Raigarh/Bilaspur 20 to 25 June 15 to 29 July 20 to 25 20 to 25 25 to 30 August September October Bastar/Jagdalpur 15 to 25 June 10 to 15 July 25 to 30 20 to 25 15 to 20 August September October Ambikapur/Korea 15 to 25 June 10 to 15 July 10 to 15 20 to 25 15 to 20 August September October

The major issues of concern are:

 Heavy load of DFL production on BTSSO  Non-compliance of disinfection protocol, thus promoting contamination from scales  Contamination from infected DFLs  Non-compliance of rearing field sanitation standards  Poor microscopic examination for pebrine detection  Inadequate infrastructure and lack of qualified staff in state PPCs  Shortage of staff, no fresh recruitments, most of current staff nearing retirement  Staff engaged in other responsibilities (like Swacch Abhiyan, etc.) unrelated to tasar

There are five Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TCs) in Chhattisgarh: in Ambikapur (Sarguja district), in Bastar, in Pendari (Bilaspur district), in Boirdadar (Raigarh district) and in Pali (Korba district).

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

BSM&TC, Bastar

The centre was established in April 1980 primarily for the production of basic DFLs for both Daba BV and Daba TV. Since the centre is in the Bastar plateau, Daba BV is preferred. The unit has been set up on leased forest land of 99.6 ha with 31.17 ha of captive plantation and forests, at an annual rent of Rs 7,500. It has four grainages and staff strength of 14.

In 2014-15, the centre produced 2.6 lakh (1.21 lakh of BV and 1.39 lakh of TV) basic DFLs and 36,200 nucleus DFLs; there are 118 adapted seeds rearers (ASRs) with rearing area of 82 acres that produce 13.11 lakh cocoons. By September 2015, the centre had produced 2.07 lakh Daba BV and 1.49 lakh Daba TV DFLs. Table 3.10 below gives details of the centre’s production in the last three years:

Year BV TV Total Nucleus Cocoons(lakh) ASRs Acres 2012-13 2,39,050 95,550 3,34,600 26,500 14.7 85 60 2013-14 2,24,500 1,42,500 3,67,000 46,550 14.7 100 80 2014-15 1,20,600 1,39,900 2,60,500 36,200 13.1 118 82 2015-16 2,07,700 1,49,000 3,56,700 55,000 9.6 (till Sep 2015)

About 1.5 lakh DFLs are utilised locally, while the remaining are utilised by Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. The DFLs are priced at Rs 6, but since the state offers a subsidised rate of Re 1 along with cocoon pricing as per grade, the farmers are approached through DoS for both DFL distribution and cocoon procurement. For basic seed grainage, cocoons of grade A, B and sometimes C, are acceptable. The pierced cocoons are sold to the Raw Material Bank (RMB); in 2014-15, the centre sold pierced cocoons worth Rs 21.39 lakh to RMB. Major issues of concern are the non-compliance of tasar rearing Package of Practices (PoP) by rearers, as well operational difficulties during civil strife.

Plate 3.15 - BSM&TC operations at Bastar

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

BSM&TC, Pendari

This centre was established at Pendari (Bilaspur district) in 1986, primarily for the production of basic and nucleus seed production for Daba BV and Daba TV crops. The centre has been set up on government land with 2.81 ha of captive plantation and 140 adapted seed rearers (ASRs), including three women groups spread across three districts (Bilaspur, Champa-Janjgir and Mungeli) and 15 adapted graineurs. The ASRs carry out rearing on State Pilot Project Centre (PPC) farms as well as on plantations established with support from Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC). Ninety-nine per cent of DFLs produced are through the ASRs at BSM&TC, Pendari. The centre takes up all the five cycles of rearing (two BV and three TV crops), producing 2.2 lakh Daba BV and 69,285 Daba TV DFLs and 10.6 lakh cocoons (till October 2015). About a fifth of the DFL production is for nucleus seed.

The centre was built at a cost of Rs 6.58 crore and has two grainage buildings with 2 lakh capacity and cold storage facility to preserve 1 lakh cocoons (costing Rs 1 crore) as well as DFLs. It also has all required infrastructure and equipment, similar to those at CTSSS, Kota. The staff strength is seven with two scientists and three technical assistants.

The cost to produce a basic DFL is about Rs 47, even though it is available for just Rs 6. The scientists of BSM&TC, Bilaspur, also felt that tasar rearing is done best with minimum interference like too much handling and in as much natural conditions as possible. The pairing rate in the mud house grainages is 65%, as compared to 80% in green shed nets. They were also sceptical about the results of preserving cocoons in cold storage.

The DFLs produced are given to DoS for distribution in Bilaspur, Champa-Janjgir, Gariabandh, Kanker, Korba and Raipur districts of Chhattisgarh as well as to other states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. BAIF Development Research Foundation and Mirambika from Maharashtra have also taken DFLs for rearing in Bhandara district.

BSM&TC has pioneered the use of Lavex for preventing virosis and pebrine infections; this is prepared by mixing 800 g of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), 150 g of nascent bleaching powder (calcium oxychloride) and 50 g of good quality turmeric powder; this is recommended for dusting with a quantity of 5 kg for 1,000 DFLs.

Plate 3.16 - Captive plantation at BSM&TC, Pendari

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The major issues of concern are:

 Absence of a boundary wall at the centre, making the plantations vulnerable to stray grazing  Absence of a Chawkie garden in the plantation, no security guard  Inadequate plantation  Poor staff strength, with the current staff on the verge of retirement  Poor conveyance facility; scientists are required to travel 150 km on a motorcycle to monitor rearing activities  Unwillingness among the younger generation to take up tasar activities; most of the ASRs are older people

BSM&TC, Pali

The centre was established in 1978 with the primary aim of producing basic DFLs for rearing Daba BV and Daba TV crops. The centre has captive Arjuna plantations across 42.5 ha and 24.8 ha in Selo, established under Inter State Tasar Project (ISTP). It has five grainages with 1 lakh cocoon capacity along with green shed nets of 1 lakh capacity; it also has godowns, oviposition room, garage and office. The land has been leased by the Forest Department at an annual rent of Rs 5,478, while the ISTP plantation has been leased at Rs 1,860. The staff strength is 11, with two scientists and 59 Adapted Seed Rearers (ASRs) and 32 general rearers.

In 2013-14, the centre processed 9.17 lakh cocoons to produce 2.63 lakh DFLs; about 20,000 nucleus DFLs for both BV and TV were produced. The DFLs are distributed across different districts of Chhattisgarh as well as to Jharkhand and Maharashtra, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. In 2013-14, under departmental rearing (DR), 7,100 DFLs were reared to produce 5.77 lakh cocoons, while 10,780 DFLs were reared by adapted rearers (AR) to produce 5.58 lakh cocoons.

The following were reported as the main issues of concern:

 Poor staff strength  Poor infrastructure set-up  Inadequate number of grainages available for operation

Plate 3.17 – BSM&TC, Pali

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

BSM&TC, Boirdadar

The centre was established in 1979 with the objective of producing basic and nucleus DFLs for Daba BV and Daba TV crops. Currently, 60% of DFLs produced are that of BV and the remaining 40% are of TV; in 2015-16, the centre produced 4.41 lakh DFLs (one of the highest in the country), with Daba BV comprising 56% and Daba TV the rest. The centre has 117.81 ha of plantations with 95,475 Arjuna trees and 40,473 Saja trees. Apart from this, seed rearing is also conducted by adapted seed rearers (ASRs) on six DoS farms (developed with JBIC funds) of 75 ha each. These farms are located at Torna, Saria, Kandola, Suria, Kudamkela and Katkalia within a 60 km radius. There are about 20 ASRs at each farm who are organised as women self- help groups (SHGs).

The rearing inputs for the ASRs are largely provided by the DoS, with specific maintenance support sometimes provided by BSM&TCs, such as foliar spray of urea, Malathion powder for red ants and slaked lime and bleaching powder.

The DFLs are distributed across all tasar producing states with the exception of West Bengal. The centre has four grainages and a green shed net, along with a training hall, office, oviposition room, technical section, etc. The centre area is under surface lease from the Forest Department at an annual rent of Rs 8,300. It has staff strength of 11, even though the sanctioned number is 20; there are 15 time scale farm workers and 75 seasonal workers. About 20 man days are allocated for processing one lakh cocoons. The actual operational cost for each DFL is Rs 20, though it is sold at Rs 6.

The centre procures cocoons for preservation and grainage from the rearers, with 80% of the first crop and 90% of the second crop being considered as seed. The pierced cocoons were earlier being sent to the Raw Material Banks (RMB) to be auctioned, but with objections from DoS, they are now being given to the yarn spinners at RMB rates. Last year, about 12 lakh pierced cocoons were given to the DoS while four lakh was provided to RMB.

The centre has developed a new Daba BV race, ‘Boirdadar (BDR)-10’ which is a yellow coloured silkworm with a higher fecundity of 250, as compared to 220 for Daba BV, thus giving a higher production. Trials of this new race are being done since the last decade.

Plate 3.18 - Garland making at BSM&TC, Boirdadar Plate 3.19 - Captive plantation at BSM&TC, Boirdadar

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.20 - Rearing of BV crop at BSM&TC, Boirdadar Plate 3.21 - Preservation of the BDR-10 cocoons

The main issues of concern are:

 Tasar rearing has been greatly affected by high industrialisation in Raigarh and adjoining areas.  High deforestation rates and dust is posing great threat to tasar; the rearing area is not increasing.  High amounts of dust is affecting the leaves adversely, to the extent that only one crop can be taken.  Younger generation in the rearing families are not interested in tasar and prefer to be engaged in other vocations.  Diseases and habitat destruction have rendered tasar as being no longer profitable.  Lack of organised plantation and deforestation has hampered the production.  The rates of cocoons need to hiked, especially that of seed cocoons.  Attacks from animals and wild predators like monkeys are resulting in heavy losses.  Tasar activities are seen upon favourably by the Forest Department, thus, plantation of host plants in the forests is not taken up on priority.

Table 3.11 below provides the consolidated details of the BSM&TCs covered by this study:

BSM&TC District Established DFLs Plantation ASRs Staff DFLs sent to (lakh) (ha) Bastar Bastar 1980 3.6 31.17 82 14 Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh Pendari Bilaspur 1986 2.9 2.81 140 7 Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha Pali Korba 1978 2.6 67.3 59 11 Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh Boirdadar Raigarh 1979 4.4 117.81 120 11 Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Though the basic DFLs are sold at Rs 6 by the BSM&TCs, it is given to the rearer at a state subsidy of Re 1. The DoS has 12 basic seed farms in Dantewada, Korba, Raigarh and Sarguja, along with 69 Pilot Project Centre (PPCs) across all 27 districts in the state. The DFLs provided by PRADAN under the MKSP programme, however, do not get any subsidy and are provided at Rs 800/packet of 100 DFLs.

Table 3.12 below shows the basic DFLs (bivoltine and trivoltine) distributed during 2013-14 and 2014-15 in the state:

2013-14 2014-15 Crop Bastar Raigarh State Bastar Raigarh PRADAN State BV 120,350 1,55,985 9,18,518 71,800 1,80,149 17,380 7,13,485 TV-1 48,118 76,390 3,49,077 32,390 85,300 -- 4,71,425 TV-2 7,800 86,320 2,29,912 20,200 1,53,740 -- 6,35,754

As the table shows, while TV DFL production has increased, there has been a fall in BV DFL production in Bastar as well as overall in the state.

3.7 Seed cocoon rearing

Table 3.13 below presents details of seed cocoon production in Bastar and Raigarh districts in 2014-15:

Crop Bastar Raigarh PRADAN State DFL: cocoon ratio BV-1 8.77 lakh 17.24 lakh 1.94 lakh ~ 100 lakh 12 TV-1 3.29 lakh 7.71 lakh -- 59.56 lakh 10 TV-2 3.59 lakh 21.60 lakh -- 80 lakh 15

In Bastar, out of 71,800 DFLs reared in Daba BV first crop, 86% were from Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TCs), while in Raigarh, 64% were from BSM&TC units. In Bastar, 57% of the TV first crop was from BSM&TCs, while in Raigarh, 46% of the TV first crop was from BSMTCs; for TV second crop, 39% DFLs were from BSMTCs in Raigarh, while there was no DoS TV-2 DFL production in Bastar. There are 1,835 seed rearers in the state, with 300 in Bastar and 495 in Raigarh. Under the MKSP project, PRADAN has promoted 20 seed rearers who rear 6,600 BV-1 DFLs to produce 1.942 lakh seed cocoons in Lailunga block of Raigarh district and Balarampur district.

The seed rearers are provided with 25 kg of lime and bleaching powder per 10 rearers, along with a litre of sodium hypochlorite solution from the Department of Sericulture (DoS) funds; umbrella, boots, torch, secateurs, net, tray, crate and sprayer are provided under the Catalytic Development (CDP) programme. The basic seed DFLs received from the BSM&TC and other units are converted into seed cocoons by the rearers for commercial grainage.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

For Daba BV, it is a single cycle, while for TV, there are two such cycles; though of just a month’s duration, both are extremely critical in the tasar value chain and have high risk of low returns. The seed cocoons which are reared in early June-July, coincides with the monsoons and paddy transplant season. This makes the rearers pressed for proper allocation of time to seed rearing, which further brings in increased risks of crop loss.

To encourage farmers, the DoS is providing additional bonus, shown in Table 3.7 below, on the cocoon prices fixed as per grade shell weight:

Grade Cocoon rate in Rs/1,000 Incentive for BSR/ 1,000 Final seed cocoon rate (Rs) cocoons (Rs) A (1.8 g and above) 1,680 400 2,080 B (1.5 g to 1.79 g) 1,440 300 1,740 C (1.2 g to 1.49 g) 1,080 250 1,330 D (0.9 g to 1.19 g) 720 200 920

BSR- Basic Seed Rearer

Seed rearing is done both by BSM&TCs and DoS on their respective plantations and farms; apart from them, it is also done by adapted seed rearers (ASRs) on government farms as well as in the forest. In Bastar district, Madhota with 200 rearers and Bakawand with 100 rearers are exclusive seed zones for Daba BV. In the seed zone, all DFLs provided are exclusively from the BSM&TCs. As per DoS, Jagdalpur, the seed rearers are given boots, secateurs, torches and raincoats, but they do not have any crop insurance. The usual practice by the seed rearers is to rear Daba BV-1 and then TV-3 in the same plot. In Bastar district, the DoS has 11 farms where rearing is done in block plantations by SHGs who earn from the sale of the cocoons as well as from farm maintenance at Rs 182/day.

Lakhma Ram from Madhota village (Bastar district) has been a traditional tasar rearer for 15 years; he is part of a group of five who are engaged in rearing of Daba BV on Saja trees in nearby forests. LR is an ASR for BSM&TC, Bastar, and has been trained in seed rearing. In 2015, he took 1,500 Daba BV-1 DFLs from the centre at Re 1/DFL on credit (which was adjusted with the cocoons produced). Lakhma was provided with 4 kg urea for aerial spray (2% solution), rogor (3% solution spray for gall infection), slaked lime and bleaching powder for dusting at 9:1 ratio and folidol (parathion) for red ants, by the BSM&TC on grant. He already had a gator sprayer and shoes provided through an earlier programme supported by UNDP. He also received tray, tub and secateurs for rearing from the BSM&TC. Lakhma does not have any nylon net and he carries out light pollarding of the host trees.

The DFLs he had received hatched at 90% to produce about 45,000 cocoons (1:30), out of which 3,000 were flimsy; most of the cocoons were graded as types B and C. The good cocoons were sold to BSM&TC, Bastar, for which Lakhma received a payment of Rs 61,000 (Rs 1.45/cocoon) through cheque. The payment for flimsy cocoons was due at the time of the study. Lakhma used the amount to purchase a cycle, repay off some loans and spend on other household expenses.

Lakhma feels that the production could have been higher if birds and other predators had been better controlled; there were also incidences of infections with symptoms of swelling and blackening of the larval body which resulted in mortality. He also feels that the price of cocoon should be increased.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Hardeo Ram, also from Madhota village, has been rearing tasar for the last 10-12 years on Saja and Arjuna trees in the forest. He is also an ASR with BSM&TC, Bastar. In 2015, he took 1,500 DFLs at a cost of Rs 1,500, from the centre; he also received urea, rogor, slaked lime, bleaching powder and folidol on grant. Apart from this, Hardeo also uses flagyl (metronidazole) tablet solution at 400 mg mixed in 10 litres of water to spray after the second molt for control of viruses; Vijeta powder (a disinfectant) has also been provided to him. He has a gator sprayer and does not use nylon nets; he carries out light pruning of the host trees.

The DFLs hatched at 90% to produce 60,000 cocoons (1:40), of which 53,000 were taken for seed by the BSM&TC at a price of Rs 85,000; the remaining 7,000 were flimsy and are yet to be cleared. Hardeo invested proceeds from the sale in a new motorcycle and some jewellery. In 2014, he reared 1,900 DFLs in BV-1 to get 40,000 cocoons (1:21). Hardeo feels the price of the cocoon should be increased since the seed rearing involves great risks.

Ramnath, another rearer from the same village, has been rearing tasar since the last decade; he is part of a four-member group named ‘Amar’ and he is an ASR with BSM&TC, Bastar. In 2014, he received 700 DFLs which gave him 17,000 cocoons (1:24) sold at Rs 25,000. In 2015, RN reared 1,500 DFLs to produce 76,000 cocoons (1:51) which were sold at Rs 1.09 lakh. His earnings have been kept as fixed deposit in a local bank.

Bongu Ram, another rearer from Madhota village, has been rearing tasar for the last 10 years in a group of four. He is also an ASR with BSM&TC, Bastar. In 2014, he received 800 DFLs to produce 22,000 cocoons (1:27), earning Rs 30,000. In 2015, he took 1,500 DFLs but was able to produce only 4,200 cocoons of which 1,200 were flimsy. The seed cocoons were sold at Rs 3,400 and the remaining amount is due. The primary reason was the failure of the silkworm to spin the cocoons properly.

Bharat Ram and four more members have been rearing tasar on the plantation at Jharumar village (Bastar district) for the last 15 years. Earlier, they would collect Raily cocoons from the forest. Currently, they are ASRs of BSM&TC, Bastar, and carry our rearing of both Daba BV crops. They receive urea, flagyl tablets, lime, bleaching powder, folidol, etc. from the centre on grant; they do not use nylon nets. Traditional methods like sling shot (guler) and sticky traps (chiknara) made of a mixture of bar (Ficus bengalensis) or peepal (Ficus religiosa) gum and mustard oil as well as shouting are used to ward off birds and predators. In 2014, the group received 700 DFLs which gave 29,400 cocoons (1:42), earning them Rs 45,000. In 2015, they reared 700 DFLs to get 31,000 cocoons (1:44), earning them Rs 45,000. The group has bought a music system from the proceeds.

The State Sericulture Department Farm at Chaparbhanpuri (Bastar district), established in 1982, is utilised for rearing Daba BV first and second crops. A 12-member women SHG is engaged in the rearing operations under Institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) with technical support from Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur. Under the programme, 10 kg of slaked lime, 1 kg of bleaching powder, flagyl tablets and folidol and plastic sheets are provided, while urea, micronutrients and rogor are provided by the DoS. Apart from this, the farm also has 10 nylon nets (though not used), 10 sprayers (gator and hand) and five grainage buildings of 75,000 cocoon capacity. In 2014, the SHG reared 3,000 DFLs to produce more than 100,000 cocoons (1:33) of Daba BV.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In Bade Gadewand plantation (Bastar district), Kagheswar Mishra along with three members reared 900 DFLs of Daba BV-1 to produce 64,000 cocoons (1:71); there were no incidence of diseases, though attack from birds is common. The group were awarded by DoS, Jagdalpur, for their feat which marked one of the highest conversions. The four families are working on the farm on muster roll with a daily wage of Rs 100, and distribute their income accordingly. Over the years, the families have used their income from tasar rearing to construct a new house, enhance agricultural activities, buy motorcycle, make bricks, buy cattle like goats and set up a grocery store.

Anant Ram of Paroda village (Kondagaon district) has been rearing tasar in the forests for the past one year under IVLP project. In 2014, he bought 200 DFLs of Daba BV-1 from BSM&TC, Nabrangpur, at Rs 200. He also received 17 kg of slaked lime, 1 kg of bleaching powder, a plastic sheet, three packets of methyl parathion, two tubs and two trays on grant; he also received two secateurs from the DoS which were taken back after the rearing. The Forest Protection Committee (FPC) and the Forest Department do not allow setting up of nylon nets for rearing in the forests nor do they allow pruning or pollarding of the trees. Usually, the rearers take up a single line of big host trees in a forest block and carry out the rearing on them; the worms are transferred once every 15 days.

The 200 DFLs Anant had bought hatched at 80% to produce 3,000 cocoons (1:15), with 20% (600) of them being flimsy cocoons. The seed cocoons were sold to private graineurs at Rs 2.5/cocoon, but the amount was still due at the time of the study. With transport of cocoons being a major problem, Anant was compelled to ferry all his cocoons on a motorcycle. Paroda village has 12 men and 10 women who rear in a group and have received field training on rearing.

Daya Ram of Gondiapal village (Bastar district) has been rearing in the forests for the last two years under IVLP project, as part of a group of 13. In 2014, he received 1,400 DFLs of Daba BV-1 from DoS, Chaparwan-Bhanpuri, at Rs 1,400, along with two packets of slaked lime, a packet of bleaching powder, fenvalrate, two plastic sheets, a basin, a tray and secateurs from the DoS. Some of these items like the basin, tray and secateurs have to be returned to the DoS after rearing. No nylon net was used nor was pollarding or pruning of the host trees done. The DFLs thus reared hatched at 90%, giving a production of only 2,000 cocoons out of which 60% were flimsy. Since the crop had failed, 10 of the 13 members in the group migrated to places like Raipur, Hyderabad and Bangalore in search of construction work. In 2015, Daya and three others reared 800 DFLs to produce 15,000 cocoons (1:19) all of seed quality; an estimated Rs 18,000 was due as payment, during the study.

Gayatri Kashyap and her group of three in Cherapur village (Bastar district) have been rearing tasar in the forests for the last five years. In 2015, under the IVLP project, Gayatri received 2,600 DFLs to produce 15,000 cocoons (1:6) of which 50% were flimsy. At the time of the study, the payment from the cocoon sale was still due.

Gauri Samuha and 19 others from Sagarpali village (Raigarh district) have been rearing tasar in the forests since the last two years, with support from PRADAN under the MKSP programme. Their rearing plot has about 800 Saja trees. In 2013, the group received 1,700 DFLs from BSM&TC, Boirdadar, which cost Rs 800/100 DFLs amounting to a total cost of Rs 13,600. The DFLs were given on credit, along with 5 kg of lime, 1 kg of bleaching powder, a litre of sodium hypochlorite and nylon net. Each member also received secateurs and training on rearing from BSM&TC, Boirdadar. The DFLs hatched at 90% to produce 48,000 cocoons (1:28) of which 10,000 were flimsy. The seed cocoons were further processed in the village grainage for production of commercial DFLs, while the flimsy ones were sold to traders at 80 paise/piece (amounting to a total earning of Rs 8,000).

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Bishnu Ram along with four others from Amaghat village (Raigarh district) has been rearing tasar since 1982. Earlier, the group would rear only in the forests, but now they also rear on plantations that were re-developed in 2014 after the old ones were destroyed in a fire. There are about 20,000 trees of Saja and Arjuna on 175 acres of plantation developed by DoS, Raigarh.

In 2014, the group reared 500 DFLs of Daba TV-1 sourced from BSM&TC, Boirdadar, at Rs 500; they also received 50 kg of urea, rogor, 3 kg of lime and bleaching powder and folidol from the DoS on grant. The group uses nylon net from DoS, Tamnar, as per the need; each rearer has also received secateurs and a spade each which returned to the DoS centre after the work. The group carries out pruning of the host trees during harvesting; pollarding especially of the bigger trees is prohibited. The DFLs hatched at 75% to produce 7,500 cocoons (1:15) primarily of Grade D (92 paise/cocoon); much of the worms died after the 4th molt with symptoms of hanging and shrivelled body. In 2015, the group reared 1,500 DFLs of Daba TV-2 to obtain 80,000 cocoons (1:53), mostly of C and D grades and flimsy ones. Each member earned about Rs 9,000.

Table 3.14 below provides the consolidated details of seed rearers discussed in the preceding pages:

Rearer Village Rearing DFL Other inputs Hatching Production DFL : Net area number & (%) of cocoons cocoon income source ratio (Rs) Lakhma Madhota, Forests 1,500 BV-1 Urea, rogor, lime, 90 45,000 1:30 60,400 Ram and Bastar BSM&TC, bleaching group district Bastar powder, folidol 42,000 sold (five to BSM & members) TC; 3,000 flimsy due Hardeo Madhota, Forests 1,500 BV-1 Urea, rogor, lime, 90 60,000 1:40 85,600 Ram and Bastar BSM&TC, bleaching group (six district Bastar powder, folidol, 53,000 sold members) flagyl tablet, to BSM & vijeta TC; 7,000 flimsy due Amar Madhota, Forests 1500 Bv-1 Urea, rogor, lime, 90 76,000 1:51 1,09,000 group Bastar BSM&TC, bleaching (four district Bastar powder, folidol, Sold to members) flagyl tablet, etc. BSM&TC, Bastar

Bongu Ram Madhota, Forests 1500 BV-1 Urea, lime, 80 4,200 1:3 3,760 and group Bastar BSM&TC, bleaching (four district Bastar powder, flagyl 3,000 seed members) tablet and folidol 1,200 flimsy Bharat Ram Jharumar, Plantations 700 BV-1 Urea, lime, 90 29,400 1:42 45,000 and group Bastar BSM&TC, bleaching (five district Bastar powder, flagyl members) tablet and folidol

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

SHG Chaparbh Plantations 3000 BV- Urea, 80 100,000 1:33 Not (12 anpuri, 1 micronutrients, available members) Bastar BSM&TC, rogor, lime, district Bastar bleaching powder, flagyl tablets, folidol Kagheswar Bade Plantations 900 BV-1 Urea, rogor, lime, 90 64,000 1:71 Not Mishra and Gadewan BSM&TC, bleaching available group d, Bastar powder, folidol (three Bastar members) district Anant Ram Paroda, Forests 200 BV-1 Lime, bleaching 80 3,000 1:15 5,980 Kondagao BSM&TC, powder, folidol n district Nabrangp 2,400 sold ur to private graineurs, 600 as flimsy Daya Ram Gondiapal Forests 800 BV-1 Lime, bleaching 90 15,000 1:19 18,000 and group , DoS, powder and (three Bastar Chaparwa fenvalrate members) district n Gayatri Cherapur, Forests 2600 BV-1 Lime, bleaching 80 15,000 1:6 Not Kashyap Bastar DoS, powder, folidol available and group district Chaparwa 7,500 seed (Four n 7,500 flimsy members) Gauri Sagarpali, Forests 1700 BV-1 Lime, bleaching 90 48,000 1:28 Samuha Raigarh BSM&TC, powder, sodium (19 district Boirdadar hypochlorite 38,000 members) group grainage, 10,000 flimsy Bishnu Amaghat, Plantations 500 TV-1 Urea, rogor, 75 7,500 1:15 6,400 Ram and Raigarh BSM&TC, folidol, lime, group district Boirdadar bleaching powder Grade D (five members) 1500 TV-2 80 53,000 1:53 45,000 BSM&TC, Grade C, D Boirdadar and flimsy

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.22 - Adapted seed rearers rearing in the forest at Madhota village (Bastar)

Plate 3.23 – A seed rearer at Paroda village (Kondagaon) Plate 3.24- Adapted seed rearers at Amaghat village (Raigarh)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The main issues of concern in seed rearing are:

 Difficulty in rearing in the forests; host trees are big and further apart in the forest, need for gap filling with food plants  Threat from predators, especially nocturnal ones; fear of monkeys which destroy larva and elephants  Difficulty in area expansion due to industrialisation (Raigarh)  Plot hygiene protocols not fulfilled  Deforestation due to industrialisation, urbanisation, pollution and mining  Conflicts with Forest Committees and Forest Department with regards to pruning, pollarding, clearing and setting up the nets  Risk of using methyl parathion to kill red ants which is a threat to biodiversity and the environment  High risk of seed rearing in monsoons as well as personal accidents  Cocoons are taken in instalments, thus increasing vulnerability to damage; lack of storage facilities  Difficulty in transportation of cocoons from remote villages  Lack of protective measures such as shoes, raincoats, umbrellas, tents, first aid, etc.  Inadequate fencing on plantations, watchman/guard required  Absence of crop insurance  Poor rate of seed cocoons  Rearing coinciding with paddy cultivation, making proper allocation of time and resources difficult  Tasar is less profitable than cultivation of cowpea on the forest patches which involves less labour and more profits (Lailunga block, Raigarh district)  Lack of transparency in the grading system of cocoons

3.8 Commercial grainage

As per Department of Sericulture, Raipur, there are 69 Pilot Project Centres (PPCs) across all 27 districts of Chhattisgarh. There are 293 private graineurs in the state with 151 mud house grainages. Under the MKSP project, PRADAN has promoted four private graineurs in Lailunga block of Raigarh district. Two pucca grainage buildings with asbestos roof have also been constructed under the programme, along with grainage equipment. In Balarampur district, 16 pucca grainage buildings with asbestos roof have been constructed with equipment provided to 29 graineurs.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 3.15 below shows the details of grainage in the two districts of Bastar and Raigarh, promoted by PRADAN:

District Central Seed cocoons Private grainage Commercial Cocoon : DFL grainage DFLs ratio Bastar 4 8.77 lakh BV-1 18 1,40,294 BV-2 6:1 3.29 lakh TV-1 55,800 TV-3 6:1 3.59 lakh TV-2 Raigarh 10 21.24 lakh BV-1 62 4,46,844 BV 5:1 7.71 lakh TV-1 2,19,830 TV-3 8:1 17.20 lakh TV-2 PRADAN -- 1.94 lakh 8 33,500 BV-2 6:1 Chhattisgarh 69 1 crore BV-1 293 14,53,047 BV-2 7:1 59.56 lakh TV-1 8,48,852 TV-3 9:1 80 lakh TV-2

Most of the seed cocoons produced through departmental rearing (DR) and adapted rearers (ARs) in BV-1, TV-1 and TV-2 are further processed into commercial DFLs for Daba BV-2 and TV-3 rearing by the central grainages in the PPCs and, to some extent, by private graineurs.

The DoS provides Rs 25,000 as working capital (for production of 5,000 DFLs) along with chemicals and accessories such as sodium hypochlorite, formaldehyde, microscopes, etc. on grant. Further, Rs 50,000 is provided to private graineurs for the construction of mud houses with 20,000 cocoon capacity.

Gauri Samuha along with 19 members in Sagarpali village (Raigarh district) reared 1,700 DFLs to obtain a production of 48,000 cocoons; out of this, 38,000 were processed in the commercial grainage built under the MKSP project.

All grainage equipment such as microscope, formalin, phenyl, potassium hydroxide, slides, cover slip, stool, table, etc. were provided on grant under the project. Only 700 DFLs could be produced in the grainage since the pebrine levels were high and further production was abandoned. The DFLs were further used by the group for commercial rearing. The pierced cocoons were sold to traders in Raigarh at 80 paise/piece for yarn conversion, amounting to Rs 30,400 in total.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.24 - PPC, Chaparbhanpuri (Bastar) Plate 2.25 - PPC, Tamnar (Raigarh)

Plate 3.25 - A private grainage house at Sagarpali (Raigarh)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3.9 Commercial cocoon rearing

This is the final stage in the tasar value chain (pre-cocoon), where the DFLs produced in the grainage for Daba BV-2 and TV-3 crops are further reared in the forests and on plantations to produce reelable cocoons that feed into the post-cocoon sector. The details of commercial cocoon rearing in Bastar, Raigarh and PRADAN-promoted areas are shown below in Table 3.16:

District Commercial Commercial cocoons rearers Bastar 800 11.44 lakhs BV-2 6.28 lakh TV-3 Raigarh 1,805 23.89 lakh BV-2 18.94 lakh TV-3 39.84 lakh (direct sales) PRADAN 59 8.79 lakh BV-2 Chhattisgarh 10,935 1.74 crore BV-2 1.04 crore TV-3

Commercial tasar rearing is the most attractive segment of the tasar value chain, due to the possibility of high production with comparatively lower risk as compared to the first crops, and with practically no expenses apart from the subsidised DFL cost. The nucleus seed rearers of BV-2 and TV-3 attached to the Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSM&TC) or the Department of Sericulture (DoS) usually receive rearing inputs, while general commercial rearers do not get any inputs except for the DFLs.

Most of the rearing is done in the forests; due to restrictions on pollarding from the Forest Committees and Forest Department, usage of nylon net is difficult and in most cases, it is not undertaken. Since the trees are usually of greater height, it is difficult to climb them for transfer of the silkworms; rearers reported of common accidents during rearing. Even though dusting is recommended on every transfer, in reality, it is rarely complied with – at the most, rearers do the dusting once.

The availability and use of fertilisers is rare in the plantations and largely not undertaken in the forests; even though the incidence of gall infestation is high in the plantations, it is not available there, while though it is distributed to rearers in the forests, it is almost absent. The use of methyl parathion for red ants (which is an edible product for indigenous communities) is rampant among the rearers; it is being distributed by the DoS and also bought by the rearers themselves.

In Bastar division, rearing of the Daba eco-race in Raily habitats is a threat to the latter, since the cross-breed cocoons are of an inferior quality as compared to the original Raily.

Another issue of concern in Bastar division is the hiring of rearers in the interior villages on low contractual wages by outsiders who engage them to cultivate tasar in the forests by providing the DFLs and taking the cocoons thus harvested. The outsiders invest on the DFLs and the wages and earn substantial margins from the sale of cocoons when there is a good crop.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The rates of commercial cocoons have been fixed by the DoS based on shell weight, as shown in Table 3.17 below:

Grade Cocoon rate in Rs/1,000 Incentive for NSR/ 1,000 cocoons (Rs) Final seed cocoon rate (Rs) A (1.8 g and above) 1,680 400 2,080 B (1.5 g to 1.79 g) 1,440 300 1,740 C (1.2 g to 1.49 g) 1,080 250 1,330 D (0.9 g to 1.19 g) 720 200 920

NSR- Nucleus seed rearer

To encourage nucleus seed rearers (BV-2 and TV-3), there is an additional incentive over and above the commercial cocoon rates as shown above. However, rearers were largely unaware of the standard rates and the grading process; after harvest, as the cocoons are deposited at DoS centres, the price is fixed based on rough estimates of the DoS officials and not the actual average shell weight of the cocoons. In a number of instances, it was observed that standard rates even for commercial cocoons were not paid. There is a lack of transparency in the grading process, and poor dissemination of information among rearers on standard rates of different grades of commercial and seed cocoons. In many instances, payments were delayed by a month or more and frequently paid in cash. It was also observed that flimsy cocoons were bought at very low rates in lots and in most cases, the payments were still due. In the MKSP project areas in Lailunga block of Raigarh district, no state subsidies on DFLs were available, thus, rearers had to pay Rs 800/100 DFLs.

Table 3.18 shows the rates of pierced and flimsy cocoons:

Cocoon type Rate (Rs/1,000) Flimsy (0.65 g to 0.89 g) 300 Pierced-A (1.8 g and more) 715 Pierced-B (1.5 g to 1.79 g) 605 Pierced-C (1.2 g to 1.49 g) 440 Pierced-D (0.9 g to 1.19 g) 275 Rat cut ---

Pitambar Bhagat as part of a group of five from Kamarga village (Raigarh district) has been rearing tasar for the last 10 years in the nearby forests. In 2013, he took 1,200 DFLs from the DoS at Rs 1,200; however, no inputs such as lime or bleaching powder were used nor provided by the DoS. He bought folidol powder for control of red ants on his own. No nylon net was provided and thus, not used; he did receive five secateurs, three trays and two crates from the DoS, which were returned after rearing. The group carries out light pruning during harvesting as the Forest Department objects to tasar rearing.

The DFLs hatched at 90% to produce 11,000 cocoons (1:9); there was mortality at the time of spinning. The flimsy cocoons were simply thrown out and the remaining ones were transported on a bicycle for sale at the DoS centre. The cocoons were deposited and their grading done by DoS officials based on estimation and not on actual shell weight. Pitambar and his group received Rs 5,000 at a later date.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In 2015, under the MKSP project, Pitambar and his group received 1,000 DFLs from PRADAN, sourced from Jharkhand, at a cost of Rs 8,000. The group was also provided with four packets of lime, 1 kg of bleaching powder, 1 litre of sodium hypochlorite and 1 kg of folidol under the programme on grant. Apart from this, nylon net, gator sprayer and four secateurs were also provided. However, the group did not use the net as it was difficult to put it up in the forest.

Of the 10 packets of DFLs received, two and a half packets were eaten by rats; the remaining produced 16,000 cocoons (1:16) of which 4,800 were flimsy (and sold at 50 paise/piece) and the rest 11,200 cocoons were sold to Adarsh Prahari Sangsthan (Balarampur district) at Rs 2.40/piece for preservation. The payment amount of Rs 29,280 was outstanding at the time of the study.

Chamru from Katakalia village (Raigarh district) is a traditional rearer who rears in the forests. He has been rearing Daba BV on about 1,000 Saja trees on his rearing plot. In 2013, he received 300 DFLs from the DoS at a cost of Rs 600, along with lime, bleaching powder and folidol on grant. He only does pruning during harvesting as the Forest Department objects to tasar rearing and have imposed fines ranging Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 in the past. Chamru does not have any nylon net which is anyway prohibited in the forests. The DFLs he received hatched at 90% to give a production of 17,000 (1:57) cocoons which were sold to the DoS at Rs 8,000 (Re 0.47/piece).

In 2014, Chamru took 600 DFLs to get a production of 30,000 cocoons (1:50), of which 500 were flimsy and the remaining were graded as B and C. He received a payment of Rs 10,000 (Re 0.34/piece) for his produce about one and a half months later. In 2015, Chamru took 1,000 DFLs which hatched at 90% to produce 26,000 cocoons; he spent Rs 500 to transport the cocoons on his bicycle and on a tractor to the DoS centres. There, they were graded B and C and he received a payment of Rs 17,000 (Re 0.65/piece) after a month.

Even though the mean price of B and C grades cocoons is Rs 1.26/cocoon, Chamru only received 50 paise per cocoon on his produce. Similar instance was reported by a number of rearers, who said the grading of the cocoons was not transparent; the cocoons are simply deposited at the DoS centres and based on inaccurate methods of estimation such as pressing the cocoons, the grade is fixed and payment made about a month later.

Masidan Tigga and his group of five from Piprahi village (Raigarh district) has been rearing Daba BV for the last 14 years in the forests; apart from this, a 22 ha plantation of Arjuna trees was also established in the village by the 17-member self-help group (SHG) through the DoS.

In 2013, Masidan and his group received 1,200 DFLs from the DoS at a cost of Rs 1,200 for rearing on the plantation, along with two packets of lime, a packet of bleaching powder and secateurs fo0r each member. No nylon net was used and only light pruning of the trees were carried out. The DFLs hatched at 90% to produce 45,000 cocoons (1:37) of which 4,000 were flimsy; the good cocoons were sold to the DoS at Rs 1.2/piece which were graded as A and B (average standard price is Rs 1.56/piece).

In 2015, Masidan and his group took 1,200 DFLs from the DoS for Rs 1,200 for rearing in the forests, along with 800 DFLs from PRADAN under the MKSP project, sourced from Jharkhand, at a cost of Rs 6,400 for rearing in the forest. The group was also provided with five packets of lime and 2 kg of bleaching powder as well as nylon net, a gator sprayer and five secateurs on grant. The group also bought 2 kg of folidol at Rs 60/kg to keep the red ants away.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The DFLs hatched at 90% to produce 54,000 cocoons (1:45) of which 6,000 were flimsy; the good cocoons were sold to the DoS as per their grading, details of which were not shared.

The DFLs obtained from PRADAN also hatched at 90%, giving 20,250 cocoons (1:25) of which 1,400 were flimsy (sold at Re 0.50/piece). The rest 18,850 cocoons were sold to Adarsh Prahari Sangsthan, Balarampur, for preservation at Rs 2.40/cocoon. The payment amount of Rs 39,420 was due at the time of the study.

Most of the group’s earnings from tasar have been used for loan repayment and household expenses.

Gauri Samuha, an SHG of 19 members in Sagarpali village (Raigarh district) has been rearing tasar in the forest for the last two years under the MKSP programme. In 2013, the group produced 700 DFLs from the village grainage which was further reared to yield 11,800 cocoons (1:15). Of these, 3,800 were flimsy and sold to traders from Raigarh at Re 0.80/piece and the remaining 8,000 cocoons were sold to Adarsh Prahari Sangsthan, Balarampur, at Rs 2.80/piece for preservation.

The following year, the SHG took 1,000 DFLs from PRADAN, sourced from Jharkhand, at a cost of Rs 8,000; even though the hatching was good, only 5,300 cocoons were produced (1:5) of which 800 were flimsy. The crop was affected by pebrine and the rearers mistakenly sprayed formalin instead of hypochlorite solution which resulted in high mortality of the worms. The good cocoons were sold at Rs 1.40/piece while the flimsy ones were sold at Re 0.40/piece to Raigarh traders.

This episode greatly discouraged the group towards tasar rearing; in 2015, no crop was taken. They feel it was more profitable to cultivate cowpea in the forests than tasar – 30 kg of cowpea seeds could yield a production of 300 kg which sells for Rs 18,000 locally. Cowpea also involves less labour and effort.

Bishnu Ram as part of a group of five in Amaghat village (Raigarh district) has been rearing tasar since 1982 in the forests and on plantations. In 2014, he took 2,200 DFLs of Daba BV-2 from BSM&TC, Boirdadar, and also received urea, rogor, lime, bleaching powder and folidol for rearing. He also received secateurs and spade from the DoS which were returned after the rearing. Gator sprayer and nylon net were also provided as per need. BS carries out pruning during harvesting but no pollarding which is prohibited by the Forest Department.

The DFLs hatched at 75% to produce 85,000 cocoons (1:38) which were graded as C at the DoS centre and their payment made in cash to the group. In 2015, the group reared 500 DFLs of BV-2 to produce 41,000 cocoons (1:82) which too were graded mostly as C. However, they received a payment of Rs 26,000 (Re 0.63/cocoon) even though Grade C cocoons are priced at Rs 1.08/cocoon.

In Kirna village (Mungeli district), Neera Sahayata Samuha with 14 women as its members, have been rearing Daba BV tasar on a 25 acre DoS plantation since 2003. It used to be a mulberry plantation in the 1990s but later, in 2000, it was converted into an Arjuna plantation of 25 acres. There are 15,000 Arjuna trees and 7,000 Saja trees – about 10,ooo trees were damaged by fire.

Neera Sahayata Samuha is an adapted seed rearer (ASR) with BSM&TC, Bilaspur. In 2014, the group took 2,400 DFLs from the centre at Rs 2,400; they also received six packets of slaked lime and two packets of bleaching powder, 15 packets of lavex, 10 kg of parathion and five secateurs from the centre for rearing.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Earlier, they had received tray and tub and also have eight sprayers, but none of them are in a functioning condition. The group does not have nylon net and carry out pruning during harvesting. Though gall infection is common, they have not received any rogor; about three years back, they used to get fertilizers for the plantation from the DoS, but have not received any since.

The DFLs hatched at 80% to produce 2,16,000 cocoons (1:90), of which 1,80,000 cocoons were procured by BSM&TC, Pendari, for Rs 3.16 lakh (Rs 1.75/cocoon). The remaining 36,000 cocoons which were flimsy were procured by the DoS at a fixed price of Rs 1,700. The amount was divided among the members as per muster roll at a wage rate of Rs 210 per day. The SHG members felt that withdrawal of leaves in the plantation resulted in more flimsy cocoons.

In Bansajhal village (Bilaspur district), Jaivik Kirmi Palan Samuha with 16 members are adapted rearers (ARs) for BSM&TC, Pendari, and have been rearing Daba tasar across 56 ha of forests since 2005. Earlier, they used to rear TV-3, but have now shifted to BV-2 since the last two years due to leaf shedding. They reported that presently, there were no conflicts with the Forest Department in rearing tasar.

Being organic farmers, the rearers do not use fertilisers or rogor and instead use farm yard manure to some extent. They received four packets of lime (200 kg) and two packets (50 kg) of bleaching powder and sodium hypochlorite from BSM&TC on grant for rearing. They have also received four nylon nets, five secateurs, three trays, a tarpaulin and two torches. Pruning is only done during harvest time.

In 2014, the group reared 3,000 DFLs obtained on credit from BSM&TC, Pendari, at Rs 3000. The DFLs hatched at 80% to yield 1.6 lakh cocoons (1:53). Of this, 3,000 were flimsy and 1,000 were rat cut; they were sold to DoS, Bilaspur, for which the payment is still due. The remaining 1,56,000 cocoons were graded C by DoS officials and preserved for seeds by the BSM&TC; the group received a payment of Rs 2.11 lakh. The group felt that the yield should have been at least two lakh cocoons, but the production had gone down due to predators. The payment received was divided among 12 active members of the group as per muster roll and spent on taking farmland on lease for agriculture, repayment of loan, purchase of bullocks, etc.

In Cherapur village (Bastar district), Gayatri Kashyap in a group of four had been hired by the villagers of Guria and Gunpur to rear 600 DFLs sourced from BSM&TC, Bastar, in the forests. No other inputs or accessories were provided. The rearing yielded 30,000 cocoons (1:50) which were procured by the villagers, paying Gayatri and her group wages of Rs 1,500. This practice of hiring rearers on wage basis was reported in Bastar district, where rearers provided with the DFLs, and the yield is procured by the outsiders who make substantial margins at low investments.

Shiv along with Lakhma Ram of Madhota village (Bastar district) took 1,500 Daba TV-3 DFLs from the DoS to rear 30,000 cocoons (1:20) which was sold back to the DoS at Rs 35,000 (Rs 1.17/cocoon). In 2015, he had taken 1,300 DFLs of Daba BV-2 from BSM&TC, Bastar, which was being reared at the time of study.

In 2014, Ramnath of Madhota village (Bastar district) and three members of Amar group had taken 1,500 DFLs of Daba BV-2 from DoS, Chapkawat, but got no yield; in the following year, he took 1,500 DFLs, but once again, floods resulted in a loss.

In 2014, Bongu Ram and his group from the same village as above took 1,200 DFLs from the DoS but got no production. The following year, he took 1,200 DFLs which were being reared at the time of the study.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Daya Ram and his group in Gondiapal village (Bastar district) reared 1,400 DFLs of BV-2 to get a production of 10,000 cocoons (1:7) and earned Rs 11,800 (Rs 1.18/cocoon); he has invested the money in giving loans to fellow villagers at 60% interest rate. In 2014, Kagheswar Mishra and his group from Bade Gadewand village (Bastar district) took 600 DFLs of TV-3 to get a production of 30,000 cocoons (1:50). They received the best rearer prize from DoS, Jagdalpur.

Table 3.19 below summarises the details of second crop rearing of Daba BV and third crop of Daba TV:

Rearer Village DFLs Cocoons DFL:Cocoon Net income (Rs) Pitambar Bhagat Kamarga, 1,200 11,000 1:9 3,800 and group Raigarh district 1,000 16,000 1:16 21,280 (five members) (70% good) Chamru Katakalia, 300 17,000 1:57 7,700 Raigarh district 600 30,000 1:50 9,400 (98% good) 1,000 26,000 1:26 15,500 Masidan Tigga Piprahi, 1,200 45,000 1:37 Not available and group Raigarh district (92% good) (five members) 1,200 54,000 1:45 Not available (89% good) 800 20,250 1:25 39,420 (93% good) Gauri Samuha Sagarpali, 700 11,800 1:17 19,840 (19 members) Raigarh district (68% good) 1,000 5,300 1:5 --- (85% good) Bishnu Ram and Amaghat, 2,200 85,000 1:38 Not available group Raigarh district 500 41,000 1:82 25,500 (five members) Neera Samuha Kirna, 2,400 2,16,000 1:90 3,15,300 (14 members) Mungeli district (83% good) Jaivik Kirmi Palan Bansajhal, 3,000 1,60,000 1:53 2,08,900 Samuha Bilaspur district (96% good) (12 members) Gayatri Kashyap Cherapur, 600 30,000 1:50 1,500 and group Bastar district (wages only) (four members) Shiv and Lakhma Madhota, 1,500 30,000 1:20 33,500 Ram Bastar district Amar group Madhota, 1,500 -- No yield -- (four members) Bastar district 1,500 -- Floods resulted in loss -- Bongu Ram and Madhota, 1,200 -- No yield -- group Bastar district (four members) Lakhma Ram Madhota, 1,000 31,500 1:31 Not available Bastar district (84% good) Hardeo Ram Madhota, 1,600 -- Diseases, no yield -- Bastar district 1,500 -- Blackening and death -- Daya Ram and Gondiapal, 1,400 10,000 1:7 10,400 group Bastar district (three members) Kagheswar Mishra Bade 600-TV-3 30,000 1:50 Not available and group Gadewand, (three members) Bastar district Numbers in red indicates DFLs procured from PRADAN under MKSP; rest are DFLs of Daba BV-2

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.26 - Nucleus seed rearers at Bade Gadewand (Bastar) and (right) at Kirna (Mungeli) in the plantations

Plate 3.27 - Commercial rearing at Bade Gadewand (Bastar) Plate 3.28 - Traditional bow used to shoot stones at birds

Plate 3.29 - Traditional sling shot and (right) sticky traps used in rearing

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.30 - Nucleus seed rearing at Bhasajhal (Bilaspur district)

Plate 3.31 - Red ants and Eggs consumed at Bastar Plate 3.32 - Unhatched DFLs at Paroda (Kondagaon)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In Chhattisgarh, the DoS has exclusive rights for the purchase of Daba cocoons at fixed standard rates (revised periodically); the best cocoons are preserved as seed cocoons for production of basic seeds the following year, while the reelable ones are sold to the cocoon banks for reeled yarn conversion while the flimsy ones are used for spinning.

There are 13 cocoon banks in the state, in Bastar, Bilaspur, Kanker, Raigarh, Surguja, Janjgir, Mahasamund, Jashpur, Dantewada and Korba as well as four yarn banks in Bastar, Raigarh, Janjgir and Mahasamund. Apart from this, there are petty traders who also buy usually the flimsy and pierced cocoons for conversion to Ghicha or spun yarn.

The cocoon banks further issue the cocoons based on their grade for yarn conversion to reelers and spinners at common facility centres or to different reeler and spinner groups in the villages. The cocoons are primarily sold to the reeling-spinning groups or to khadi societies and the remaining are provided to traditional reelers and spinners in different weaving clusters.

Table 3.20 below gives the details of procurement and sale price of different grade cocoons:

Cocoon type Purchase rate Sale rate (Rs/1,000) (Rs/1,000) Grade A 1,680 1,800 Grade B 1,440 1,560 Grade C 1,080 1,200 Grade D 720 840 Flimsy (momra) 300 350 Pierced (poli) Grade A 715 750 Pierced (poli) Grade B 605 640 Pierced (poli) Grade C 440 475 Pierced (poli) Grade D 275 310 Rat Cut -- 220

Plate 3.33 - Cocoons being dried at a DoS farm in Chaparbhanpuri and (right) a stifling chamber at a cocoon bank in Bastar

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The principal issues in commercial rearing are:

 Difficulty in rearing on trees with great heights and distance in the forest  Conflicts with the forest committees and Forest Department on tasar rearing  Inadequate plantations and gap filling for rearing  Existing plantations are vulnerable to grazing and fire, inadequate cattle proof trench (CPT) and fencing  Limited inputs provided to host trees on plantations  Lack of good equipment, with existing ones being old and malfunctioning  Rearing kits and first aid not provided to the rearers  Risk of the use of methyl parathion to kill red ants, which is also a threat to biodiversity and the environment  Attack from predators such as bats, monkeys, snakes; fear of elephants  No facilities for cocoon transportation  Lack of facility for temporary cocoon storage  No crop insurance  Rearers unaware of health, accidental and life insurance schemes and if they are covered  Deforestation, mining, pollution, urbanisation affecting tasar rearing  Lack of quality DFLs, poor conversion rate, prevalence of diseases resulting in losses  Poor price of cocoons  Lack of awareness on standard cocoon rates  Lack of transparency and rates in cocoon grading; very low rates given for flimsy cocoons  Payment dues for flimsy cocoons and nucleus cocoons  No subsidy on DFLs obtained from PRADAN under MKSP project  Very limited post-cocoon activities and value addition and no integration with pre-cocoon sector  Rates of cocoons outside the state is higher than the standard rates fixed by the DoS

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.34 – A cocoon bank at Urdhana, Raigarh

Table 3.21 below shows presents details on the actors and material volume produced in the value chain in the two districts of Bastar and Raigarh, along with PRADAN for pre-cocoon activities:

Plantations Basic Seed Seed Graineurs Commercial Commercial Commercial (ha) DFLs rearers cocoons DFLs rearers cocoons Bastar 850 1,24,390 300 15.65 lakh 18 1,96,094 800 17.72 lakh Raigarh 1,813 4,19,199 495 46.55 lakh 62 6,66,674 1,805 83.67 lakh PRADAN -- 17,380 20 1.94 lakh 8 33,500 59 8.79 lakh Chhattisgarh 15,081 18,20,664 1,835 2.39 crore 293 23,01,899 10,935 3.17 crore

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3.10 Interventions in conservation of Raily eco-race

The Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS) in Jagdalpur (Bastar district) was established in 1986 under the aegis of Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTRTI), Ranchi. The principal aim of RTRS is the conservation of Raily eco-race, including survey of distribution, larval behaviour, grainage and rearing behaviour, etc.

The main high potential eco-pockets of Raily in the Bastar plateau are Machkote/Nangur (core areas), Darbha, Tokapal, Tongpal, Narainpur, Kondagaon and Geedam. There are two cropping seasons, the principal one being in August and then a minor crop in February.

The main reasons for the decline in the Raily crop are:

 Loss of habitat, deforestation, industrial and mining activities  Climate change and fluctuations  Over-exploitation of Raily cocoon collection due to high prices and demand

Raily thrives best on Sal (Shorea robusta) trees but can also feed on Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), Saja (Terminalia tomentosa) and Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna). The toughness of the cocoons is due to the presence of crude fibre from the Sal leaves. One of the unique advantages of Raily is that it is completely pebrine-free; however, it is not amenable to human handling. Research at RTRS, Jagdalpur, has shown that under domestic environment, only 30% coupling occurs with 60% emergence, as compared to 80% with almost 100% emergence under natural environment. Even in its hatching, domestic conditions yields 40% to 50%, as compared to 80% to 90% in natural conditions.

Table 3.22 below presents the details:

Environment Coupling Emergence Hatching Domestic 30% 60% 45% Natural 80% 100% 85%

Thus, Raily cannot be reared like Daba and the only way it can be conserved and multiplied is by conserving its habitat, the Sal forests of South-East Bastar division.

RTRS, Jagdalpur, has pioneered five different field-releasing methods towards conservation of Raily eco-race:

 Release of seed cocoons  Release of male and female moths  Release of gravid female moths  Release of eggs in leaf cups  Release of Chawkie worms

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The most successful of the above five methods is the release of eggs on leaf cups, followed by the release of Chawkie worms, release of gravid moths, release of male and female moths and release of seed cocoons. These methods have also been successfully tried out for other wild eco-races like Modal (Odisha) and Andhra local (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana).

RTRS has developed the ‘Pagoda’ system of Raily cocoon rearing and release in the forests. The system mimics natural conditions, where a circular space of 11.5 feet (3.5 m) diameter in a forest patch, preferably near Sal trees, is enclosed with bamboo strips covered with nylon net with a roof of wild grass or paddy straw. The whole structure is supported by a number of poles inside the space; live Raily cocoons are then hung as garlands inside this enclosure or pagoda (Kosa lari) for emergence and coupling. The moths are decoupled and kept outside in the net, where they lay eggs and die within three days. The eggs are then placed inside leaf cups and hung on Sal trees for hatching, etc.

No further activities in rearing are required or desirable; the Raily larva abhors human touch and interference, and frequent touching and disturbance results in cessation of feeding, vomiting and even death. The best way is to leave them undisturbed in their natural habitat.

In some cases, the eggs hatch and the larva is released on Sal trees after eight to 10 days. The male moths are also released after a day to fly away in the forest; tracing pheromones (up to 2 km), they couple with other females in the forests. The live cocoons are also hung without any enclosure or with just a straw roof to create as much a natural condition as possible. Once the eggs/larva and moths are released, the pierced cocoons are sold to local traders at Rs 2 to Rs 3 per piece which are further used for Ghicha yarn conversion.

About 20 cocoons thus hung give 200 cocoons (1:10); in 2014, the Department of Sericulture (DoS) set up a hundred Raily pagodas (40 feet x 40 feet) with one lakh cocoons for conservation and multiplication under Intensive Development Programme (IDP).

However, unofficial sources reported that mostly dead cocoons are taken from local traders billed at standard rates to be hung in garlands in the pagodas, and after official visits, photographs and paperwork, the cocoons are removed and given back to the traders, usurping the amount allocated for cocoon procurement.

There are about 4,700 Raily cocoon collectors in Bastar, of whom the majority are in Darbha block. Once the cocoons mature between 10 August and 15 October, the collectors look for the black droppings of the larva to locate the Sal trees where cocoons may be present; the cocoons are then harvested with long bamboo poles or by climbing the trees or by shaking it, etc. About 10-15 years ago, cocoons were in such abundance that they looked like white bulbs that filled the forest; people would sell them in oil tins (holding 500 cocoons each) and each family would sell two to three tins every week. Back then, forest guards prohibited the harvest of cocoons so sale took place in the night.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Fig 3.4- Pagoda design (RTRS, Jagdalpur)

Fig 3.5 – The five methods of Raily conservation (RTRS, Jagdalpur)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Currently, people are able to make about 1,000 cocoons in the entire season (August-October) and about 300 cocoons in April. The rates have also gone up greatly from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per 100 (sekra) cocoons in 2013 to Rs 400 in 2014 and over Rs 600 in 2015. The rapid rise in prices has led to increased exploitation and even stealing of the cocoons, which has drastically reduced yields.

Anant Ram of Paroda (Kondagaon district) reported that a group of 70 to 80 persons had collected 10,000 Raily cocoons which were sold at Rs 3 to Rs 4 per piece. Daya Ram of Gondiapal (Bastar district) reported that though he did not find any Raily cocoons in 2015, he had collected about 200 cocoons in 2014 and sold them at Rs 2 to Rs 2.50 per piece. He discovered from other collectors that Raily cocoons had sold for Rs 5/piece in 2015. Gayatri Kashyap of Cherapur (Bastar district) reported that 1,500 to 2,000 Raily cocoons were collected by shepherds while grazing animals in the forests.

Once harvested, the cocoons are sold in local haats (markets) to Kochias (middlemen) and traders based in Jagdalpur. There are three main traders in Jagdalpur with a number of Kochias to whom they extend advance payments (Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 per week) during season for cocoon procurement. Incidentally, most of the peduncles break during harvest and are largely not recovered. Each collector is able to collect 1,000 to 1,200 cocoons in a year which are sold across 99 village haats in the region that take place on different days of the week. There are three types of cocoons – large, small and pierced (poli) priced at Rs 6.20, Rs 6 and Rs 2.10 per piece, respectively. The peduncles sell for Rs 50 to Rs 100 per kg and are mostly sold at Champa (Chhattisgarh). The cocoons procured in the haats are packed into gunny bags (1,500 per bag) and carried to Jagdalpur in pick-up Jeeps at a cost of Rs 25/bag. At the trader’s godown, the cocoons are spread out on the floor and sold within three to four days. According to the traders, about 80% of the cocoons are live at the time of procurement. The Raily cocoons are considered Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) and fall under the jurisdiction of Forest Department rather than the DoS. Thus, a Transit Permit (TP) is required for transportation of Raily cocoons. A TP fee of Rs 300 is charged for every truck carrying 2,500 sack loads containing 1,500 Raily cocoons each.

Eighty per cent of the crop comes in August-October, while the remaining is harvested in February till the end of March. There is a price difference of Rs 50 per 100 cocoons in the February-March crop.

Raily cocoons are always in high demand due to their size, silk content and toughness (800 to 850 cocoons gives a kg of yarn); it is called ‘king’ among the eco-races and its production greatly influences the price of Daba cocoons in the market. Being a natural product, Raily cocoons see frequent fluctuations in volumes harvested, thus fluctuations in their prices too. In recent years, the demand for procurement of cocoons for the pagoda system have led to cartelisation among traders, with prices doubling from Rs 3/cocoon to Rs 6 in 2015. Since the DoS had fixed a maximum price of Rs 5/piece for the pagodas, which was not revised in 2015, not a single pagoda could be set up. Grade A Daba BV cocoons are many times mixed with Raily lots to secure greater margins. Both traders and collectors feel that the cocoon production has greatly declined, attributing the cause to factors such as changing weather patterns, deforestation and over-exploitation due to the high prices.

According to RTRS, Jagdalpur, about five crore cocoons are harvested from the region every year; traders reported that in recent times, this figure is between 70 lakh and 1.5 crore. As per unofficial sources, though the actual production may be higher, only 10% to 20% is recorded on paper and Transit Permit (TP) issued for transportation; the remaining is reportedly smuggled out without any TP or the same permits are used multiple times.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Since the cocoon bank at Jagdalpur is not engaged in the procurement of Raily cocoons and there is only negligible use locally for training, etc., 98% of the Raily cocoons flow out of Bastar division to different weaving clusters in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Forty per cent of the cocoons go to Champa (Chhattisgarh) and the remaining 60% to Bhagya (Jharkhand) and Nuapatna and Gopalpur (Odisha). With the initiation of the pagoda programme, the DoS had procured 10 lakh cocoons in 2014 at Rs 5 per piece, while PRADAN had taken 1.8 lakh cocoons.

Plate 3.35 - A Raily pagoda at Bastar (Source: RTRS, Jagdalpur)

Plate 3.36 - Raily garlands being set up for pagoda rearing (Source: RTRS, Jagdalpur)

Plate 3.37 - Raily experiments in net cabinets at RTRS Plate 3.38 - Sale of Raily cocoons in haats (Source: RTRS, Jagdalpur)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.39 - Regenerating Sal saplings at RTRS, Jagdalpur

The principal issues of concern and areas to be addressed, as per RTRS, Jagdalpur, are:

 Loss of Raily habitat by deforestation  Need for more Raily conservation camps and pagodas  Minimum human handling to ensure more production  Create community awareness on Raily conservation to help curb over-exploitation  Reduce over-exploitation by disallowing collection during February-March and maintaining Machkote/Nangur as undisturbed core areas and others as peripheral areas  Capacity building of local persons on pagodas  Better storage of cocoons by spreading them on the ground or in the form of garlands, as opposed to stuffing them into gunny bags which results in reduced emergence  Involve more agencies towards conservation and procurement of cocoons, such NGOs, CBOs, etc.  Establish post-cocoon activities using Raily cocoons as the raw material  Revive traditional weavers in the area to work with reeled and spun Raily yarn

Under the MKSP project, PRADAN has initiated the Raily silk moth release method through the pagoda system since 2014, towards the conservation, stabilisation and multiplication of the eco-race. In 2015, thirteen pagodas with 1.43 lakh cocoons were set up in eight villages managed by 11 Kosa Vikas Samitis (KVS).

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 3.23 gives the details:

Year Villages KVS* Pagodas Cocoons Emergence Mean Non- Price Pierced Price Procurement emerged (Rs / cocoons (Rs / Price cocoons piece) piece) (Rs/piece) 2014 7 8 10 1,82,467 69 6 61,942 4 1,20,525 2 2015 8 11 13 1,43,707 66 6 48,227 6 95,480 3.10 *Kosa Vikas Samitis

In Lendra village (Darbha block, Bastar district), the Tekrapara Karikram Krinanwan Samiti (PEC) which is an association of three self-help groups (SHGs) with 30 members, has been rearing Raily under the pagoda (Kosa lari) system in the forests (~ 12 ha) since 2014, under MKSP programme implemented by PRADAN. They used to be traditional Raily cocoon collectors, collecting the cocoons from the forests which are rich in Sal, Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia) and Saja (Terminalia tomentosa) trees. The Sal forests near the village are protected by the community and fuelwood collection here is restricted; no conflicts with the Forest Department were reported except the dislocation of a pagoda from inside a national park in one village.

The Samiti members worked together to set up the pagoda, with eight people on four-day duty slots; muster roll for the days worked were maintained and income shared based on it. Towards the end of July, men constructed the pagoda and resting shed on one of the Sal patches in the forest, using bamboo, rice straw, nylon net, etc. About 19,244 Raily cocoons were purchased from Nangur haat as well as from traders based in Jagdalpur, at Rs 6 per piece costing a total of Rs 1.15 lakh – the money was obtained as grant under the MKSP project. On the first day of September, about 40 to 100 cocoons are tied together in garlands using rope (lari) which are then hung up in the pagoda. The floor is plastered almost daily with cattle dung and sprinkled with lime to maintain hygiene and prevent diseases.

Kerosene oil and antracol (propineb) are used outside the pagoda to prevent ants and insects from entering it. As the moths begin emerging, activities begin at early morning with marking of the coupled moths by cutting the wings, decoupling by afternoon and placing the female moths in the shed inside nylon nets for laying eggs. The male moths are released into the forests (they remain alive for a week), while the females die within three days after laying the eggs. The dead moths inside the pagoda are buried immediately to prevent spread of infections. After eight days, as the eggs begin to hatch, larva and pre- hatched eggs (as is, without any cleaning or washing) are placed on Sal leaf packets and hung on different trees in the forests. Three to four packets are placed on large trees, while on medium trees, about two packets are placed. Heavy rains increase mortality and also increase the incidences of virosis; when there is a high male emergence, transfer to another pagoda is proposed. The cocoons are kept in the pagoda till October end after which the pierced cocoons (poli Kosa) are sold to traders at Rs 3.10/piece. Once every two days, the men monitor the released crop and use sling shots to drive away birds.

In 2014, due to a cyclone, the yield was poor and about 1,000 cocoons were left for the April crop, which were eventually taken. In 2015, 60% (11,546 cocoons) of the moths emerged and there were minimal incidences of virosis or insect attack.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The Butipara Kosa Samiti in Topar village (Darbha block, Bastar district) has 18 members who have traditionally been Raily cocoon collectors from the nearby forests, part of which falls under Kanger Ghati National Park (KGNP). Since 2015, under the MKSP programme implemented by PRADAN, they have set up a pagoda with 13,100 cocoons bought from traders (Rs 5.60/piece) and from villagers (Rs 6.70/piece), costing them Rs 81,600. An amount of Rs 1.85 lakh was obtained on grant from the MKSP project for the pagoda, with the balance retained in group’s bank account.

Initially, the group had constructed the pagoda inside the boundaries of KGNP, but it was dismantled by the Forest Department. The pagoda was re-constructed just outside the boundary after 15 days.

Table 3.24 below shows the different items and expenses for setting up a pagoda:

Items Expenses (Rs) Raily cocoons 81,600 Bamboo 350 Straw 500 Net 1,850 Rope 1,500 Lime 100 Gunny bags 25 Lamp 440 Torch 120 Stationery 818 Trunk 350 Plastic 120 Nails 260 Fenvalrate 100 Transportation of goods 2,380 Labour 7,900 Total 98,413

As the table shows, 90% of the expenses are towards cocoon procurement and labour; construction materials like bamboo and straw and labour (~ 9%) are funded through community contribution while the remaining expenses is obtained from the MKSP funds. At 65% emergence, there will be a recovery of Rs 43,885 (44%) from sale of poli Kosa (pierced cocoons) and whole cocoons, which is distributed among the group members as per muster roll.

Since there has been no direct gain from the pagoda activities and there is a decline in Raily cocoons, the group members have decided to restrict neighbouring villagers from harvesting cocoons from forests within a 2 km radius from the pagoda.

In Junapura village (Darbha block, Bastar district), the Karyakaram Krianvan Kosa Samiti with 15 members have been rearing through the pagoda system under MKSP programme since 2014. They are traditional Raily collectors who are able to collect about 800 to 1,000 cocoons per family during the August-October season. In February-April, collection is usually not done. The group received Rs 1.85 lakh for pagoda activities under the MKSP project implemented by PRADAN.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

In 2014, they took 30,000 cocoons from DoS Kosa Centre at Jagdalpur at a cost of Rs 6 per cocoon. Since it was of a very inferior quality, about 4,000 cocoons were returned and 26,000 (costing Rs 1.56 lakh) were hung inside the pagoda. After the release of eggs and larva, 16,000 poli Kosa, along with 8,000 that did not emerge, were sold to traders at Rs 2.50/piece and Rs 3.50 per piece, respectively, with the total amounting to Rs 68,000. The group did not harvest any cocoons in 2014 for stabilisation.

In 2015, the Pagoda was set up on the roadside Sal forests to increase accessibility; however, only 6,000 cocoons could be taken from Nangur haat at Rs 6 per piece, of which 5,500 emerged (92%). The collectors have been able to collect up to 400 cocoons per week during the peak season.

Plate 3.40 - Raily male and female moths with eggs Plate 3.41 - Inside a pagoda at Lendra (Bastar)

Plate 3.42 – A pagoda at Lendra (Bastar) with KVS members Plate 3.43 - Raily eggs

Plate 3.44 - Raily larva on the Sal trees

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.45 - Raily larva being taken for release in the forests

Plate 3.46 – Rearers climb Sal trees to release the Raily larva

Plate 3.47 – A Raily pagoda at Topar (Bastar) Plate 3.48 - Spider, one of the predators

Plate 3.49 - Inside a pagoda at Topar Plate 3.50 - Induced mating in a net

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.51 – Packing Raily eggs into Sal leaf packets for (right) release onto the trees

Plate 3.52 - Natural egg laying and (right) hatching on Sal trees (Kanger Ghati National Park, Bastar)

Plate 3.53 - Raily larval droppings Plate 3.54 - Releasing eggs on Sal trees at KGNP, Bastar

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.55 – A pagoda at Junapura (Bastar)

Plate 3.56 – A male Raily moth Plate 3.57 - Resting shed outside a pagoda at Lendra (Bastar)

According to the community, the main issues of concern are:

 Increased exploitation of Raily cocoons resulting in severe decline in production  Weather vagaries affecting production; too much rains result in crop loss  Attack from predators like monkeys, bats, owls and rats result in losses  Work involves intensive engagement for the whole day  Risk of accidents while climbing up trees to release the eggs and larva  Conservation initiatives cannot be taken up without grants and special programmes  High price of cocoons and cartelisation  Consistent deforestation, industrialisation accelerating climate change affecting silk moth survival  Restrictions in taking up pagoda activity inside national parks

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Fig 3.6 - Product flow diagram for pre-cocoon

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

3.11 Institutional set-up

The main institutions in the tasar sub-sector are Department of Sericulture (DoS), Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSMTC), Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation (BTSSO) Bilaspur, Central Tasar Silkworm Seed Station (CTSSS) Kota, P4 Unit Kota, Research Extension Centre (REC) Katghora and Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS) Jagdalpur, which are functioning to carry out the overall operations of the entire pre-cocoon tasar value chain along with research and development. PRADAN has initiated tasar interventions with Daba BV in Lailunga block of Raigarh district and Raily conservation in Bastar district, along with Adarsh Prahari Sangsthan in Balarampur district, under the MKSP programme since 2013. Under the programme, women-led community organisations in every intervention village, such as the Kosa Vikas Samiti (KVS), and block-level associations are also being initiated.

Tasar/Kosa Vikas Samiti (TVS/KVS)

Under the MKSP programme, women are organised at the village level to form self-help groups (SHGs). After a baseline survey, the tasar producers from the SHGs are then organised into an activity group called Tasar Vikas Samiti (TVS), comprising of plantation farmers, rearers, graineurs, reelers and spinner. A smaller group is further formed out of the TVS, as the Project Execution Committee (PEC) which implements the project.

The village-level planning is done by the TVS, where individual families express their interest, resource base, etc. and based on the physical plan, the TVS places their requisition for the transfer of fund into the TVS account dedicated for the project implementation. The requisition is further verified by the concerned PRADAN professional and submitted to PRADAN. Based on the requisition, the PRADAN team at the district/block level transfers the fund into the TVS account. The activities are implemented by individual families with the help of the PEC and the community service provider (CSP), and the bills are, thus, raised. Bills against the grants are submitted to PRADAN after their verification by the PRADAN representative in the field along with representatives from the PEC as well as the CSP.

The small size of the TVS helps the members interact effectively, oversee schedules and plans and maintain activities under the project. These primary level organisations’ main concerns are the selection of rearers, selection of a proper rearing site, maintenance of host plants, promotion of new plantations, monitoring of the standard for quality DFLs and helping rearers access services for rearing and marketing of the cocoons. These groups are gradually integrated at the block level to form producers’ organisations.

In Bastar district, 11 Tasar Vikas Samitis have been initiated for conservation of Raily in eight villages. Currently, these groups are at a fledging state and have not started holding their own separate meetings but discuss tasar specific issues at the SHG meetings. Principal matters discussed at such meetings are procurement of cocoons, muster roll for pagoda activities, etc.

In Lailunga block of Raigarh district, four Tasar Vikas Samitis (TVS) have been formed; currently, they do not meet regularly.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.58 - Kosa/Tasar Vikas Samitis at (left) Topar in Bastar and (middle) Sagarpali in Raigarh; (right) a meeting register

In most of the other villages, rearing is done in informal groups and there are no such active community institutions. In Cherapur village (Bastar district), a Kosa Vikas Samiti had been initiated for a plantation across 15 ha; about 10 ha of the plantation has been completed but further work has come to a halt since the wages have been cleared.

In Kirna village (Mungeli district), Neera Samuha, a group of 14 members, was formed in 2001. Every member saves Rs 100 per month and the group has a consolidated saving of Rs 50,000 which is used for internal lending. The group reported that the DoS has restricted them from spending the balance amount of Rs 95,000 kept in a joint account from earlier funds received for plantation.

The Jaivik Kirmi Palan Samuha with six members in Bansajhal village (Bilaspur district) works to rear tasar and has a bank account. The income earned is divided equally among all the members, who follow and promote sustainable and organic farming practices.

In Piprahi village (Raigarh district), a Resham Samiti had been formed and some meetings on plantation held, but the group is not very active. The village of Katakalia (Raigarh district) has a KVS, but apart from rearer members being aware that they part of the group, no activity has been carried out so far.

Plate 3.59 – Rearers groups at Madhota and Jharumar (Bastar)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 3.60 - Rearers group at Cherapur (Bastar) and Bhansajhal (Bilaspur)

Plate 3.61 - Rearers group at Chaparbhanpuri (Bastar) and Amaghat (Raigarh)

Department of Sericulture (DoS)

The Department of Sericulture falls under the Department of Rural Industries (Sericulture Section), Government of Chhattisgarh. Headquartered in Raipur, it is responsible for promotion of sericulture in the state. It is headed by Director-cum- Secretary who is assisted by Deputy Director, Sericulture Section. At the district level, the Deputy Director is responsible for all field-level implementation and monitoring assisted by a section officer, technical and field assistants, etc.

Pilot Project Centres (PPCs) is the field-level implementation unit of the DoS for tasar interventions. The PPCs are the central link with seed and commercial rearers as well as private graineurs. The PPCs lift the cocoons from the second and third crop rearers as per the grading standards and preserve the nucleus cocoons, while the rest are sent off to the respective cocoon banks. They are engaged in carrying out basic seed grainage to provide basic seed DFLs to seed rearers (from self-production as well as BSM&TCs). Further, they are linked to private graineurs who are provided with seed cocoons, equipment and accessories for grainage activities to rear commercial DFLs for the commercial rearers. The PPCs also carry out grainage activities for multiplication of basic and nucleus seeds, and support rearers and graineurs through all-round technical support, capacity building, inputs, accessories, equipment, grainage house, nursery and plantation as well as marketing of seed and commercial cocoons and DFLs. The PPCs are the primary integrators for tasar pre-cocoon activities at the grassroots and are entitled towards the procurement of cocoons which further feed into the cocoon banks and post-cocoon activities.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSM&TC)

This is the principal body that provides basic DFLs for seed cocoon rearing in the area; details about the BSM&TC have been covered in section 3.6.

Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS)

The principal activity of the RTRS is towards revival and stabilisation of the Raily eco-race; the details have been covered in section 3.10.

CTSSS, BTSSO and P4 Unit have been covered earlier in sections 3.4 to 3.6.

3.12 Schemes and programmes for pre-cocoon activities

This section describes the different programmes in the pre-cocoon sector.

Support under Catalytic Development Programme, Ministry of Textiles

The Catalytic Development Programme (CDP) initiated in the 10th Plan was continued into the 11th and 12th (2012-17) plans, consisting of the following programmes as shown in Table 3.25 below:

Assistance programmes Features Capacity, Target group Unit cost and for outreach sharing details New private graineurs Training on processing and 20,000 cocoons 1,500 private Rs 2.32 lakh production of DFLs graineurs (60% CSB, 20% 5,000 State, 20% Grainage construction DFLs/cycle beneficiary)

Insurance

Building maintenance

Equipment, consumables and seed cocoons Existing graineurs Grainage building repair 1,000 existing Rs 42,000 (60% graineurs CSB, 20% State, Servicing of equipment, etc. 20% beneficiary)

Upgradation of existing equipment

Working capital and hiring of moth testers Strengthening of tasar Renovation of existing facilities Joint 30 Pilot Project Rs 5 lakh (50% seed multiplication and infrastructure committee of Centres (PPCs); CSB, 50% State) infrastructure DoS and CSB to NGOs, societies, Supply of grainage equipment decide SHGs can also avail benefits of the programme

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Establishment of basic BSPU infrastructure along with 1 lakh cocoons 7 BSPUs Rs 43 lakh (60% seed production unit equipment, etc. CSB, 20% State, (BSPU) SHGs, 20% beneficiary) cooperatives and NGOs for management Tasar silkworm rearers Rearing equipment and tools, 2,500 rearers Seed rearers to be Rs 20,000 (60% for production of fertilisers, prophylactic measures attached to CSB, 20% State, nucleus and basic and new technologies developed BSM&TC, DoS and 20% beneficiary) seeds, grainage at CTR&TI, Ranchi BSPUs operations Mobile testing facility Mobile pick-up van for easy 20 units Joint team with Rs 6.1 lakh (50% for disease monitoring movement of the seed cocoon representatives of CSB, 50% State) and seed cocoon testing CTR&TI, BTSSO, Testing team DoS, NGOs/CBOs, Joint team visit to seed producer groups, areas to monitor and etc. contain disease incidences during seed rearing, seed cocoon procurement/preservati on/processing, seed production Augmentation of tasar 1 ha plantation of tasar host plants 12,000 ha Tasar rearers, Rs 40,000/ha host plants SHGs, women (60% CSB, 20% 10% area for Chawkie rearing groups, Van State, 20% 2.4 m x 2.4 m Suraksha Samitis beneficiary) (VSS), Tasar Vikas 1,726 plants Samitis (TVS) (1910 seedlings supplied) Joint Forest Management Plantation cost, inputs, soil and Committee in case water conservation, intercropping, of Forest lands cattle proof trench, cattle guard Tasar food plant Seedling nursery in mass scale 70,000 300 nurseries Rs 80,000 (60% seedling nursery seedlings in 100 CSB, 20% State, beds to raise Tasar rearers, 20% beneficiary) 55,000 effective SHGs, VSS, TVS seedlings for 25 ha plantation in 3 x 1.8 m spacing Chawkie gardens Chawkie rearing in private lands 0.1 ha per 4,000 rearers Rs 6,300 (60% development and government wastelands rearer with 1.8 SHG, VSS, KVS, CSB, 20% State, m x 1.8 m etc. to be 20% beneficiary) Supply of seedlings, cost of spacing, encouraged plantation development, inputs, suitable for soil conservation measures, inter- young age cropping silkworm rearing under nylon net Chawkie gardens Interculture, soil conservation, 2,400 rearers Rs 1,400 (60% maintenance vermicompost, management of CSB, 20% State, termites, fungal attack, application 20% beneficiary) of required fertilisers, neem-based insecticides, leaf surface microbes, etc.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Block plantations Block plantations on private lands 1,200 ha Rs 17,000 (60% maintenance and government wastelands CSB, 20% State, 20% beneficiary) Interculture, soil augmentation, vermicompost, termite and fungi management, application of fertilisers, neem-based pesticides, leaf surface microbes, etc. Cocoon storage house Temporary storage for 3 to 4 Storage 100 units Rs 1 lakh (35% months to avoid distress sale; structure for CSB, 35% it is also used as a common facility 50,000 cocoons State,30% centre (CFC) and CFC beneficiary) Cocoon storage with Long-term cocoon storage to Cocoon store 30 units Rs 22.2 lakh stifling facility assist in additional income for house , stifling (35% CSB, 35% rearers as well as yarn conversion chamber State, 30% beneficiary

Apart from this, in the service sector, there is a lump sum crop insurance support of Rs 1.6 crore for all sectors across all states, to cover 50% of the cost of premium paid by the DoS to the insurance company. The State shall implement it in the form of master policies envisaging 50 to 100 beneficiaries depending on the nature of sub-component and density. The cost will be shared as 50% by CSB, 25% by State and 25% by beneficiary.

Health insurance for all sericulturists and sericulture workers is with a premium of Rs 1,000 (plus 12.36% service tax) for a family of five (self, spouse and three dependant family members). In 2014-15, the CSB’s share was 75% of the premium and tax for 24,000 beneficiaries with an allocation of Rs 2.4 crore.

Development of community based organisations (CBOs) in line with the Resham Doot concept

Under this programme, 20 farmers are motivated to take up sericulture activities and form a Sericulture Cluster Group (SCG). Support is provided under different phases as the group matures. The unit cost for SCG is Rs 1.771 lakh with a sharing pattern of 60% by CSB, 36% by State and 4% by beneficiary, with a target of 1,000 groups.

The assistance provided in different phases is mentioned in Table 3.26 below:

Activities Phase-1 Group formation, motivation, meetings and stationery Phase-2 Plantation development support through CDP, Health insurance, grainage activities, common facility centres, etc. Working capital for inputs and distribution among members and non-members Phase-3 Networking of SCG, formation of cluster level association (CLA) comprising of 10 Sericulture Cluster Groups (SCGs); planning and implementation of CDP programmes through CLAs with fund routing through DoS

The NGOs or Cluster Development Management Agency (CDMA) are encouraged to take up sericulture projects by engaging with cluster level associations (CLAs).

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Convergence with MGNREGA

Both CDP and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) have similar objectives of livelihood security and wage employment, which particularly matches with the tasar host plants augmentation through block plantations. Under this convergence, Central Silk Board (CSB) would provide technical support and develop Package of Practices (PoP) evolved by research institutes in different clusters, as well as cost norms. It would also ensure onward linkages through CDP schemes so that cocoon production is strengthened to enhance income.

DoS would identify land and the beneficiaries in the area; provide training and inputs such as seedlings from kisan nurseries and extension services on soil treatment and plantation. To ensure participation of the beneficiaries and long-term sustainability, the SHGs in the village will be mobilised and para extension workers engaged to provide necessary services. The Gram Panchayat will be the implementing agency and maintain all records and provide payments.

The allocated cost norm for 1 ha plantation is Rs 1.02 lakh (MGNREGA 89%, CSB 3%, beneficiary 8%); the cost of Asan/Arjuna seedlings, vermicompost, anti-termite, transportation and intercropping will be jointly shared by CSB and the beneficiary. The beneficiary would also bear part of the basin formation and weeding as well as cultivation of bund crop. The maintenance cost per ha/year for three years has been allocated at Rs 1.57 lakh (MGNREGA 87%, CSB 4% and beneficiary 9%). The programme will be jointly monitored by CSB, DoS, District Program Coordinator and Project Officer of the district; nodal officers for it will be designated.

Other central programmes

Under seed sector, there are allocations for capacity building and training of adapted seed rearers (ASRs), private graineurs, and other need-based focused training programmes. The duration of the training programme is one to four weeks with an allocation of Rs 4,200 per trainee. The total funds budgeted for 2015-16 is Rs 52.1 lakh for 1,240 persons. Additional programmes for strengthening the seed sector through restructure and deepening of ongoing schemes in 2015-16 and 2016-17 is shown in Table 3.27 below:

Programmes Revised targets for remaining period Assistance to adapted seed rearers (ASRs) for 1,660 units Chawkie garden – 0.1 ha Assistance to ASRs for maintaining block 1,660 units plantations Assistance to tasar rearers for basic seed rearers 1,660 units (BSRs) and nucleus seed rearers (NSRs) Disinfectants support to ASRs for total elimination Rs 2,200 per farmer for 1,660 units of disease causing pathogens Assistance to adopted private graineurs to process Rs 3 lakh for grainage building, equipment, consumables, working 40,000 cocoons to produce 6,000 DFLs capital, purchase of seed cocoons, incentives, insurance coverage, etc. 450 private graineurs to be supported Assistance to mobile testing facility for disease Nine mobile testing units to be supported with a unit cost of Rs 7 lakh monitoring and seed cocoon testing Door-to-door service agent for disinfection of block 46 door-to-door service agents with a unit cost of Rs 1.5 lakh; plantations and input supply to rearers Unemployed youth, entrepreneurs to be provided motorcycle or three-wheelers with disinfecting equipment like power sprayer, safety devices, etc.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur, is also implementing the Institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) of Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTR&TI, Ranchi) in selected blocks of Bastar district for promotion of Daba BV rearing. The primary focus is to develop clusters of 100 rearers each in potential areas, towards scientific rearing practices developed by the institute for Daba BV tasar. Under this programme, apart from technical support and monitoring, inputs such as lime, bleaching powder, methyl parathion, polythene, crate, tray, etc. are also provided to rearers.

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 3.28 below presents details of the MKSP programme (2013-14 to 2015-16) ‘Promotion of Large-scale Tasar Sericulture- based Livelihoods in Chhattisgarh’ being implemented by PRADAN in Bastar and Raigarh districts.

Total Beneficiaries Basic Commerci Reelabl Block BSPU Nursery Nucleus Basic Grainag Commerci Rearers’ out lay DFLs al DFLs e plantation Farmers seed seed e al rearers collectiv cocoons s rearers rearers e

Rs 9.2 4,055 50,000 4.45 lakh 292.86 300 1 90 40 187 47 1,529 4 crores lakh

MoRD 65% CSB 22% Credit and benefici ary 13%

The programme is projected to produce Rs 7.9 crore of output, with women institutions being the principal implementing body. It would cover 1,186 SHG members and promote 56 community resource persons.

The key expected outcome of the project aimed at increasing additional family incomes by Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,700 for 2,433 tribal families through tasar sericulture, are:

 Building capacities of all participating families to adopt skills to effectively and profitably engage in livelihood activities based on tasar sericulture  Introduction of improved technologies and practices to push the productivity frontiers for accelerated growth in tasar sector  Strengthening the seed sector to eliminate the key supply constraint in tasar sericulture  Investment to create alternative market mechanisms to ensure fair prices for cocoons  Promoting producers’ collective to provide sustainable systems of services to producers  Design development and dissemination

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

State programmes

Under state government-supported programmes, the following have been taken up for tasar pre-cocoon activities:

 85% subsidy on DFL price  Daba cocoons to be procured only by cocoon banks at fixed prices based on shell weight  Provision of inputs (lime, bleaching powder, hypochlorite) from DoS to seed rearers  Provision of accessories and equipment to seed rearers (net, crate, secateurs, raincoat, torch, sprayer, etc.)  Provision of bonus to seed rearers over and above the fixed price of cocoons  Provision of 95% subsidy on building, of Rs 50,000 to private graineurs  Provision of working capital of Rs 25,000 to private graineurs  Provision of consumables, equipment and accessories (hypochlorite, formalin, microscope, etc.) on grant  Training and capacity building of rearers and graineurs  Conservation of Raily eco-race under Intensive Development Programme (IDP)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

4. Yarn Conversion

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

4.1 History and background

As per Department of Sericulture (DoS), Raipur, in 2014-15, there were 1,020 people (93% women, 53% OBC, 34% SC and 12% ST) engaged in yarn conversion in different centres and villages across Chhattisgarh, managed by the DoS. Korba and Raigarh districts have 64% of the total reelers in the state. There are 1,104 motorised reeling & twisting machines (MRTMs) and 376 motorised spinning machines. In 2014-15, about 7.66 MT of reeled tasar yarn and 6.17 MT of Ghicha yarn, along with 859 kg of waste were produced from 1.68 crore cocoons. There are 10 cocoon banks (Bastar, Bilaspur, Kanker, Raigarh, Surguja, Janjgir, Mahasamund, Jashpur, Dantewada and Korba) and four yarn banks (Bastar, Raigarh, Janjgir and Mahasamund) in the state.

Additionally, different weaving clusters in central and north Chhattisgarh (such as Champa and Raigarh) have been historically famous for tasar silk production and have numerous reelers, spinners and weavers.

The ‘Central Provinces Gazetteer of Chhattisgarh Feudatory States’ (1909) mentions tasar/kosa as an important indigenous industry in the region, primarily in Raigarh, Sakti and Sarangarh where tasar cloth was primarily woven by the Koshta community (particularly, Dewangan) and worn by the affluent classes; it was considered sacred and worn during festivals, especially while taking food. An inferior tasar cloth was also woven in Jagdalpur (Bastar district) by a few weavers.

Tasar products from Raigarh and Sarangarh used to reach Madras (now Chennai), usually as saris and dhotis of excellent quality and would cost Rs 3 to Rs 10 per piece back then.

The ‘Bilaspur District Gazetteer of 1910’ mentions the principal centres of tasar silk weaving as Bilaspur, Champa, Khokra, Chhuri, Akaltara and Baloda. About 1,000 cocoons produced enough silk to weave a thin cloth of 12 yards (~ 11 m) both warp and weft. The woven cloth was in demand across the country and was also exported to China; it used to cost anywhere from 12 annas (Re 0.75) to Rs 2 per piece. Apart from pure tasar cloth, cotton cloth with tasar border was also in vogue. Champa and Janjgir were well-known for tasar weaving primarily by the Koshtas. In 1878, about 10,000 pieces were annually produced in Bilaspur from 80 lakh cocoons.

The ‘Monograph of Silk Industries of Central Provinces’ (1901) by F C Dewar mentions reeling methods that are largely practiced by traditional weaver families even now.

After the commercial crop was harvested, the Koshta community bought the cocoons from the weekly market and dried them in the sun. The cocoons were then boiled with alum and ashes of castor plant mixed with water. After they softened, cold water was poured on the cocoons to remove the ash and then set to dry. The gummy matter was thus removed and the pupa inside killed. The women then removed the outer silk of the cocoons which would easily come off if they had been softened enough. After this, about eight to 10 cocoons were taken together (as per how fine they were) and the filaments gathered on the reeler’s left hand and reeled onto a wooden winder, natua held in her right hand. Plate 4.1 - Koshta community (Russel-1916)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

If a break occurred, the reeler would skilfully take the broken end of the fibre and dip it in a bowl of tamarind-water mixture (which provided strength and elasticity) and roll the end into the thread and carry on. Throughout the reeling, the thumb and the finger removed irregularities in the thread and helped in sizing. Since the single threads are too weak to be woven, four were usually twisted together, first in pairs which were further tied together as a single thread. Earlier, tasar yarns were used in both warp and weft, with the warp yarns specifically made after the starching.

Principal products from tasar were dhotis and saris which were generally of plain weave with borders of crimson, pale yellow or blue. Check patterns of crimson and black and cotton cloth with tasar border were also popular.

Tasar was also dyed by the Koshtas themselves using a range of vegetable dyes as shown below in Table 4.1:

Dye Ingredients Yellow, red, orange or mix Butea monosperma (Palas) flowers, Mallotus philippinensis (Kamela) fruit powder Blue Indigofera tinctoria (Indigo), Cassia tora seeds Yellowish brown Bark of Soymida febrifuga (Rohan) and Symplocos racemosa (Lodh) Green First dyed with indigo and then dipped in a turmeric solution, followed by boiling with tamarind juice

4.2 Post-cocoon operations

Currently, all the reeling activity at DoS centres are carried out using Daba cocoons on motorised reeling & twisting machines (MRTM), while spinning is carried out on motorised spinning machines. In the traditional weaving clusters of Champa and Raigarh, thigh reeling is the preferred method with Raily cocoons predominating in Champa and Daba in Raigarh.

Kosa Centre, Jagdalpur

Bastar district has five reeling centres: Dharampura, Sonarpal, Chaparbhanpuri, Bade Garawand and Chapka. Four more units are being initiated in Suachand, Rajnagar and Ichapur in recent times.

The Dharampura centre was established in 2003 near Jagdalpur, primarily for yarn conversion from both mulberry and tasar cocoons. After the commercial rearing operations, cocoons procured from rearers are stored at DoS centres in the district and then brought to the Kosa Centre. In 2014, 45 lakh to 50 lakh Daba cocoons were collected at the centre, of which 18 lakh were sold to weaver enterprises, 5 lakh kept for seed and the remaining processed into reeled yarn. Apart from this, Raily cocoons obtained from pagoda operations, comprising 85% to 90% pierced cocoons and remaining dead cocoons, are converted into reeled and Ghicha yarn. In 2014, 1.5 lakh Raily cocoons were reeled while 2 lakh to 4 lakh cocoons were converted into Ghicha yarn.

Once the cocoons arrive, they are graded and stifled and then stocked as grades A, B C and D accordingly, for use in the reeling centres as well as to provide to weavers. The flimsy, rat cut and pierced cocoons are also graded and kept accordingly for spinning or sale.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 4.2 shows the price of procurement and sale of different grade cocoons:

Grade Shell weight /cocoon Purchase price (Rs/1,000 Sale price (Rs/1,000 pieces) pieces) A 1.8 g and above 1,680 1,800 B 1.5 g to 1.79 g 1,440 1,500 C 1.2 g to 1.49 g 1,080 1,200 D 0.9 g to 1.19 g 720 840 Flimsy (momra) 0.65 g to 0.89 g 300 350 Pierced (poli) A 1.8 g and above 715 750 Pierced (poli) B 1.5 g to 1.79 g 605 640 Pierced (poli) C 1.2 g to 1.49 g 440 475 Pierced (poli) D 0.9 g to 1.19 g 275 310 Rat cut All grades -- 250

The usual grade of Daba cocoons are B (25%) and C (35%), while A and D make up 20% each; in Daba TV cocoons, 45% are of Grade C, 35% B, 30% D and only 10% of Grade A. The good quality Raily cocoons (yielding 1.6-1.8 g/pc) are purchased at Rs 2,200 per 1,000 pieces and the pierced ones at Rs 2,000 per 1,000 pieces after pagoda operations. The quality of pierced Raily cocoons are comparatively inferior as compared to Daba – there is more breakage in the filament during reeling which decreases production by 20%.

The centre has an electrical cocoon stifling unit with a capacity of 5,000 cocoons per cycle. To cook the cocoons, 10 g of soap bar and 10 g of soda is used per litre of water (hydrogen peroxide is not used). Daba cocoons require an hour of cooking and an hour of steaming, while Raily needs two hours of cooking and an hour of steaming. For flimsy Daba cocoons, half an hour of cooking and steaming is enough. The cooking costs are borne by the SHG members and cost between Rs 70 and Rs 100 per 1,000 cocoons. Electricity costs and maintenance of unit are borne by the DoS.

There are 10 reeling machines provided per unit; but Dharampura being the oldest unit, has 30 twin machines and 20 MRTMs. There are 40 spinning machines as well but these are not functional. Currently, the flimsy cocoons are being used for Ghicha conversion using an earthen pitcher. The pierced cocoons (poli kosa) of good grade are also reeled by placing a marble inside the cocoon to increase its weight. The reelers (mostly tribal communities and resettled Bengalis) are mobilised into SHGs; currently, 180 reelers in the district have been selected, but only 40 at Dharampura have been trained. Once the reelers arrive at the centre, they are given the cooked cocoons on credit as per the demand of the SHG and cocoon availability. After the yarn conversion, the yarns are weighed and graded and bought back from the reelers at standard government rates.

The reelers are paid on a monthly basis based on the quantity and quality of yarn spun, after deducting the cost of cocoons and their cooking. The centre is open six days a week (except on Sundays and holidays); however, centres in the villages remain closed from June to September on account of agricultural work.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The reelers work for six hours in a day and can produce about 100 g to 120 g of reeled yarn and 300 g to 400 g of Ghicha yarn, earning about Rs 180 to Rs 200 in a day. The women also undertake Ghicha activities at home for an hour to two hours during their free time. However, home-based activities are discouraged due to management problems.

Table 4.3 below shows the economics of reeling 1 kg yarn:

Components Units Unit cost (Rs/unit) Amount (Rs) Cocoons (C grade) 1,240 pieces 1.20/piece 1,488 Cooking costs 1,240 pieces 0.08/ piece 99 Total cost 1.26/ piece 1,587 Reeled yarn 1 kg Grade B 3,200/kg 3,200 Net income 1,613 Earning/day 9 days 110g/day 179

Table 4.4 below shows the economics of 1 kg Ghicha yarn conversion:

Components Units Unit cost (Rs/unit) Amount (Rs) Cocoons (flimsy) 3,000 pieces 0.35/ piece 1,050 Cooking costs 3,000 pieces 0.08/ piece 240 Total cost 0.43/ piece 1,290 Ghicha yarn 1 kg 1,500/kg 1,500 Net income 210 Earning/day 4 days 300 g/day 53

As the tables show, earning from Ghicha yarn conversion is one-third that of reeled yarn even though 1 kg of reeled yarn takes nine days to produce as compared to four days for Ghicha yarn. A reeler can produce a maximum of 3 kg reeled yarn as compared to 7 kg of Ghicha yarn. Thus, usually reelers work on a rotation basis, carrying out both activities for 15 days each; it also depends on the availability of cocoons and their quality. The rates of yarns produced at the centre are comparatively much lower than other independent producers due to the inferior quality. Table 4.5 below shows the standard rates of different quality yarns processed at the centre:

Yarn Yarn purchase price (Rs/kg) Reeled yarn 3,400 Coarse quality reeled yarn 3,200 Spun yarn 2,500 Ghicha 1,500 to 1,600 Waste 150 to 200 Peduncles 150 to 200

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Yarn marketing is done by the District Silk Federation under Chhattisgarh Khadi Gramodyog Board, a semi-government body. About 40% of the yarns are sold locally at Kosa Cooperative (Jagdalpur) and to about seven private parties, while 60% are taken by weaving enterprises in Champa and Kotpad (Odisha). The waste is not processed further but sold primarily in Champa at Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg. While reeling 150 g to 200 g of reeling waste, 50 g of basin waste is generated per 1,000 cocoons. About 70 kg to 80 kg of peduncles are also generated at the centre. About 40% of the Raily cocoons are used for yarn conversion; the remaining 60% are sold mostly to registered weavers (with card) primarily based at Champa. For every card, weavers can get up to 30,000 cocoons at one time.

The primary issues of concern, as cited by the manager of the Kosa Centre, are:

 Increasing demand for reeled yarn makes it imperative to have an effective cocoon procurement system and competitive rates  Even though only DoS can purchase Daba cocoons, when higher rates prevail outside, lot of the cocoons flow out  Reeling machines have chronic spare parts problems (such as traveller ring), causing the machines to be unavailable for use many times and remaining idle for months

Plate 4.2 - Ghicha yarn making, electrical cocoon cooking device, weighing yarn at Kosa Centre, Jagdalpur

Plate 4.3 - Ghicha yarn, new reeling and spinning centre at Chaparabhanpuri, Bastar

Plate 4.4 - Reeling machines lying idle at Dharampura and Bade Gadewand in Bastar

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Weaving Centre, Jagdalpur

Chhattisgarh State Antyavasai Sahakari Vitta Evam Vikas Nigam Limited, Jagdalpur was set up in 1968 by the Tribal Welfare Department with a corpus of Rs 20 lakh. Its primary objective is the procurement and processing of locally produced Raily cocoons into yarn and fabrics. In the past, Central Silk Board (CSB) had supported the centre as a Raw Material Bank (RMB) for Raily cocoons. Currently, it trains young people in different vocations and income-generating activities.

In the past, the centre carried out thigh reeling of Raily cocoons, but has shifted to MRTMs in recent times. Ever since the rates of Raily cocoons increased, the centre has not been able to procure cocoons and only uses yarns from outside for weaving. About 1.2 MT to 1.5 MT of reeled yarn and 150 kg to 200 kg Ghicha yarn are procured annually. Thigh reeled yarns from Raily cocoons from Champa constitute 90% of the total yarn procured, while the remaining is from the yarn bank at Dharampura. It was reported that the quality of the machine reeled yarn is poor due to high denier; this is because reelers are not skilful enough and tend to take eight to 10 cocoons at a time per bobbin for reeling, whereas five or six is the ideal number. It was also reported that the new MRTMs from Varanasi are of a lower quality and causes frequent problems related to belt, frame and the motors. Reeled yarns, be it Daba or Raily, cost Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,500 depending on the quality. The centre tries to maintain the local niche by maintaining 70% of the yarns as Raily and the remaining as Daba.

Earlier, there used to be 50 to 60 looms, but now, there are just 20 which are functional, along with a jacquard. Also, currently, there are only seven weavers at the centre, mostly aged, from Champa, who are engaged in production of plain yardage in traditional pit looms. Korean 33/35 denier yarn (Rs 4,200 to Rs 4,500/kg) obtained from Raigarh is used in warp, while reeled Raily or Daba or Ghicha yarn is used in weft. The black-golden lustre of the Raily yarn has a unique beauty and a good demand; the quality of the fabric is also better and improves on washing. A metre of fabric requires 50 g to 60 g of tasar reeled yarn and 20 g to 25 g of Korean yarn; in case of Ghicha, it is about 150 g.

The weavers get a wage of Rs 45/metre/day and they can produce 3-5 metres of plain yardage in a day, amounting to an earning of Rs 180/day. However, the task engages two persons, one to reel the yarn in bobbins and the other to weave. Usually, it is done by the weaver’s wife or daughter who can reel about 250 g to 300 g in a day, enough for about 5 m of fabric.

Block printing and hand painting is done on plain tasar sarees using acid dyes by local youth. A typical saree can be block printed in two to three days, for Rs 115 per piece, while hand painting usually a couple of days, at Rs 175 per saree. The cost of plain yardage is Rs 550 per metre and is sold from the exclusive counter at Jagdalpur, at a discount of 10%.

The centre produces 5,000 to 6,000 metres of plain yardage annually – these are largely block printed further with tribal motifs to make sarees and shawls. Apart from this, TG (tasar x Ghicha) yardage, suits and shirts (2,000 m to 2,500 m) are also produced in limited quantities. The products are primarily sold from Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) outlets in different metros as well as the exclusive counter at Jagdalpur. The counter sales bring in Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh per month.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The main issues of concern are:

 Deforestation and climate change has adversely affected Raily cocoon production  Huge drop in availability of Raily cocoons  No initiatives from the government to support Raily post-cocoon sector  Collective procurement of Raily not being done  Lack of facilities and support for weavers; weavers’ institutions have failed  MRTMs are of poor quality and have poor yarn conversion, making them uneconomical for the reeler  Getting spare parts of reeling machines is always a problem  Lack of skilled reelers and weavers  Younger generation disinterested in reeling, spinning and weaving as a vocation

Plate 4.5 - Weaving Korea x Raily yardage at Kosa Cooperative, Jagdalpur

Plate 4.6 – A weaving shed at Kosa Cooperative, Jagdalpur

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.7 - Block printing and hand painting on Kosa sarees

Plate 4.8 - Designs and dye casts used

Post-cocoon activities at Raigarh district

Table 4.6 below shows the details of post-cocoon activities being promoted by DoS in Raigarh:

Reelers Groups Villages Spinners Groups Villages Cocoons Pierced Cocoon Grade Group procured cocoons composition composition consumption 90 6 4 150 14 5 1.1 to 1.3 30 lakh BV:TV - 1:1 60% 65% to 70% crore C & D used by category groups

The DoS centre at Urdhana (Raigarh) has a cocoon bank, where cocoons of different grades packed into gunny bags are stacked on iron racks. There is an electric stifling machine with 10 trays; about eight sacks (20,000 cocoons) can be stifled per cycle. Stifling is done at 90 to 100 degrees Celsius for four hours.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Tasar reeling

In Kosampalli village (Raigarh district), there are three SHGs with 42 members altogether, who have been engaged in tasar reeling since 2007. The groups were originally promoted by PRADAN-Raigarh project and integrated with Masuta Producers Company Limited, but since the closure of the company, the SHGs have been operating independently, procuring cocoons from DoS cocoon bank at Urdhana, Raigarh, and marketing yarns locally on their own.

Most of the families here have agricultural land and practice rainfed agriculture, with paddy as the principal crop along with vegetables. They also collect tendu leaves, mahua flowers and seeds from the nearby forests; animal husbandry and wage labour are other important sources of livelihood in the area. Tasar reeling provides supplementary home-based income for the women.

The SHGs purchase cocoons from the DoS cocoon bank at Urdhana; a packet containing 2,500 stifled Daba cocoons are allotted per member in a month. The members reported that most of the time, they get only D (0.9 g to 1.19 g) or C (1.2 g to 1.49 g) grade cocoons for reeling. From the bank, the cocoons are brought to the village by the SHG members in autorickshaws (costing Rs 600/trip/40 packets) and kept at their homes; a packet gets over in just 10 to 12 days.

There are 40 MRTMs (costing Rs 26,000) in the village obtained through PRADAN on grant, and 10 re-reeling machines (two bought by the SHGs later at Rs 1,500 each).

The cocoons are prepared for reeling using silk powder (resembling soda) bought from local traders at Rs 120/kg. On the first day, 250 cocoons are immersed in two mugs of cold water (~ 2 litres) with 50 g silk powder, for one and a half hours; on the subsequent day, the process is repeated with 30 g of the powder. A single month of spinning causes about 20 traveller rings on the MRTMs to be replaced, costing Rs 3/piece (bought from traders). This has compelled many of the SHG members to find innovative alternatives – such as using bicycle spares.

Table 4.7 below shows the yarn recovery from different grade cocoons as per the members:

Cocoon grade Yarn conversion (g/1,000 pieces) A 1,300 B 1,000 C 750 D 550

The SHGs sell the reeled yarns (70 to 80 denier) collectively at Rs 3,650 per kg (MSP of Rs 2,200/kg) to local traders in Raigarh and Sarangarh. According to the members, the yarns produced can be classified as Grade B. They reported that yarns that were are clean, uniform in colour and texture and without knots are considered as Grade A; when the Masuta Producers Company Limited was in operation, more attention was paid on maintaining high quality in yarns which also involved more labour and time, but now, since the traders are not too interested in the quality, yarns were mass produced, of Grade B quality, which consumed less time and effort. Once the yarns are ready and rates negotiated, the traders are informed over the phone. The yarns are stored at the homes in sacks, each sack holding 1.2 kg to 1.5 kg yarns in hanks, which are collected by the traders.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The reeling waste is sold at Rs 300/kg to the same traders, in packets (holding ½ kg each), along with the peduncles at Rs 150/kg in packets (holding 100 g to 150 g). The dead pupa are simply heaped up in a corner and used as manure on the farms.

Table 4.8 below shows the economics of reeling 1 kg tasar yarn:

Components Units Rate (Rs/unit) Amount (Rs) Daba cocoons – Grade D 1,818 pieces 0.84/piece 1,527 Softening costs 364 g 0.12/g 44 Transportation 1,818 pcs 15/packet (2500 11 pieces) Traveller ring replacement, etc. 15 pcs 3/piece 45 Storage losses 50 pcs 0.84/piece 42 Electricity 14.9 units 3.41/unit 51 Gross expenses 1,720 Reeled yarn 1 kg 3650/kg 3,650 Waste 364 g 300/kg 109 Peduncles 425 g 150/kg 64 Gross income 3,823 Net income 2,103 Net income/day 8 days 263

In Piprahi village (Raigarh district), 10 MRTMs were distributed in 2012; however, the machines were never used and have been lying idle out in the open. According to the villagers, the trainer never came in time or came at a time when everyone was engaged in other activities.

Plate 4.9 - Tasar reeling and yarn hanks at Kosampalli, Raigarh

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.10 – An SHG at Kosampalli (Raigarh) Plate 4.11 - Unused MRTMs at Piprahi (Raigarh)

The principal issues of concern cited by the SHGs are:

 Cocoons are not available through the month  Poor quality cocoons are mostly available  Spares like traveller rings are difficult to get and expensive  Yarn rates are higher outside the state (Rs 4,000/kg), but those markets are not accessible to the members  Training for reeling should ideally take place in January to March, when farm activities are comparatively less

Tasar spinning

Bhikarimal village (Raigarh district) has two SHGs with 20 members who have been engaged in tasar spinning activities since 2002. The groups were initially started by PRADAN-Raigarh project and integrated with Masuta Producers Company Limited, but since the closure of the company, the SHGs have been running independently, procuring cocoons from DoS cocoon bank at Urdhana and selling the spun yarns locally.

Most of the members have farmland and cultivate paddy, green gram, mustard and vegetables; they also collect mahua flowers and seeds and tendu leaves from the forests. Animal husbandry and wage labour are other local livelihoods. Spinning is an important home-based supplementary income generating activity for the women in the village.

The SHGs procure pierced (poli) and flimsy (momra) cocoons from the DoS cocoon bank at Urdhana as well as from Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSM&TC), Boirdadar. Though they can process 9,000 flimsy cocoons in a month, they only get 3,000 cocoons from the bank and thus, are forced to remain idle for two-third of the month. The SHGs are provided with a packet of flimsy cocoons containing 3,000 pieces in a month. No sorting of the cocoons for good quality ones is allowed at the bank. Pierced cocoons (C & D category) are available only in August and in no other month. The cocoons are brought to the village in autorickshaws and stored at home; usually 100 pieces are lost to rats every month.

There are 80 to 90 spinners in the village, all with their own motorised spinning machines which were obtained about a decade ago on grant through PRADAN. Re-reeling charkhas have been made by the members themselves; they are also available in the market for Rs 90/unit.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The spinners have also improvised on the machine, by using longer bobbins which holds more yarn as compared to the original structure. They also improvise with spares from cycle repair stores such chain pin and spring to make spares for the spinning machines.

The cocoons brought by the SHG members are taken out and mixed together to avoid anyone getting better or worse quality cocoons. Before spinning, the cocoons are cooked by boiling them in water and soda (1 kg is required for production of 5 kg yarn); fuel used is firewood. The other expenses incurred are buying the spares and threads to tie up the yarn hanks.

Table 4.9 below shows the recovery of yarns from different grades of pierced and flimsy cocoons:

Cocoon grade Yarn conversion (g/1,000 pcs) Pierced (poli) - A 1,000 Pierced (poli) - B 833 Pierced (poli) - C 667 Pierced (poli) - D 500 Flimsy 333

The yarns spun are of three quality grades: A (fine and clean), B (coarse and with knots) and C (coarser and which is usually not accepted). The Grade A yarns sells for Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,100 per kg while Grade B sells for Rs 1,900 per kg (MSP of Rs 1,400/kg). These are sold individually by the members to traders who are contacted over the phone. The traders come from places like Chandrapur, Raigarh and Sakti on a weekly or fortnightly basis. About 50 g of spun waste is recovered from 1,000 pierced cocoons and 100 g to 150 g from 1,000 flimsy cocoons; these are sold at Rs 200/kg along with the peduncles at Rs 150/kg to the same traders. The pupa from flimsy cocoons is used as manure on the farms.

Table 4.10 below shows the economics of reeling 1 kg tasar yarn from flimsy cocoons:

Components Units Rate (Rs/unit) Amount (Rs) Flimsy cocoons 3,000 pieces 0.35/piece 1,050 Cooking costs 200 g 0.05/g 10 Transportation 3,000 pieces 15/packet 11 (3,000 pieces) Fuelwood 80 String 2 Storage losses 100 pieces 0.35/piece 35 Electricity 14.9 units 3.41/unit 51 Gross expenses 1,,239 Spun yarn- Grade A 1 kg 2,000 2000 Waste 375 g 200/kg 75 Peduncles 700 g 150/kg 105 Gross income 2,180 Net income 941 Net income/day 10 days 94

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The principal issues of concern cited by the SHGs’ members are:

 Unavailability of cocoons through the month  Spare parts for the spinning machine not available

In Bijna village (Raigarh district), Tulsi Samuha has been carrying out spinning activity since 2013; the group was initiated by DoS, Raigarh. There are 10 spinners with 10 motorised spinning machines, which were taken by DoS, Raigarh from other villages where the activity had stopped and given to the SHG on grant. Each spinner also has re-reeling machines bought at Rs 500 each.

Flimsy and pierced cocoons are bought from the cocoon bank at Urdhana (Raigarh) and brought to the village in a vehicle at a cost of Rs 1,500 to ferry 50 to 60 sacks (each containing 3,000 cocoons).

About 1,000 cocoons require 10 g of local soap, 100 g of soda and 10 g of detergents to cook (1.5 to two hours). Fuel used is firewood collected from nearby forests. The spinners can spin about 150 g to 250 g of yarn in a day which is sold to local traders from Raigarh at Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,100 per kg. The coarser yarns sell for Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,800 per kg.

The spinning generates 160 g waste per 1,000 cocoons which are sold at Rs 200/kg and the peduncles sold at Rs 150 to Rs 200/kg to the same traders. The pupa is used as manure on the farms.

The principal issue of concern cited by the spinners was non-availability of cocoons round the year in adequate quantities.

The yarn traders based in Raigarh buy reeled and spun yarn from different reeling and spinning villages and sell them to weaving enterprises in Raigarh. There are four to five such traders in Raigarh, and some also come from Champa, Sakti and Sarangarh. Each trader is able to sell 10 kg to 15 kg of reeled yarn and 20 kg of spun yarn in a week or a fortnight. The usual margins are Rs 50 to Rs 100 per kg of yarn. The reeled yarns are primarily used in weft, while Korean 35 denier is used in warp. The waste and peduncles are sold to traders based at Champa.

Plate 4.12 - Flimsy and pierced cocoons used for spinning

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.13 – A spinning machine in operation and spun yarn at Bhikarimal (Raigarh)

Longer Bobbin

Plate 4.14 – Improvisation by the spinners in a spinning machine; cycle spring used to make a traveller ring

Plate 4.15 – A spinning group at Bhikarimal (Raigarh) and spun waste

Plate 4.16 - Self-developed re-reeling machines

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.17 – Spinners’ pass book

Plate 4.18 - Spinners at Bijna (Raigarh)

Plate 4.19 - Spinners at Bijna (Raigarh)

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Traditional post-cocoon operations

Seoni-Champa

SD a traditional weaver at Seoni-Champa (Champa-Janjgir district) and uses Raily, Daba and Baraf (Mandla) cocoons for reeling silk yarn. The Raily cocoons are purchased from the Kosa Centre at Jagdalpur by eight to 10 weaver groups here at Rs 3,000 per 1,000 cocoons (2014). On an average, each weaver purchases 50,000 to 60,000 cocoons with freight charges of Rs 15,000-17,000. Raily cocoons are generally preferred due to their higher silk recovery, but when they are not available, other eco-races like Baraf and Daba are used. The Daba cocoons are purchased as per grade from the DoS centre at Katghora (Korba district), while Baraf cocoons, harvested in February to March, are bought from local traders at Rs 1,000 per thousand cocoons (pierced cocoons at Rs 500/1,000 pieces). Usually, a weaver buys 20,000 to 25,000 Baraf cocoons annually.

The cocoons once purchased are stifled at a DoS facility costing Rs 12 per 1,000 cocoons. SD has five to seven reelers who use thigh reeling as well as three MRTM machines. The cocoons are cooked using soda and water (250 g soda per 1,000 cocoons) over firewood (7 kg per 1,000 cocoons).

Table 4.11 below shows the recovery of tasar yarn and reeling wages for different eco-races:

Eco-race Yarn Waste Wages (g/1,000 pieces) (g/1,000 pieces) (Rs/1,000 pieces) Raily 1,400 600 1,000 Daba 800 to 900 300 600 Baraf (Mandla) 500 200 400

Thigh reeling is done by the women in the traditional way as described in section 4.1; to attain fine quality yarn (which is sold at Rs 4,000/kg), five cocoons are taken at a time, while for coarser yarn, seven to 10 cocoons (Rs 3800/kg) are taken at a go. The reelers are able to reel 50 to 60 Raily cocoons in a day which earns them Rs 50 to Rs 60; apart from this, 30 g to 36 g tasar waste is also retained, valued at Rs 13. Thus, in a day, reelers earn about Rs 68. One kg of reeled yarn is produced in 12 to 13 days.

The pierced, flimsy and rat cut cocoons are used for the production of thigh reeled Ghicha yarn. About 200 to 300 cocoons can be reeled in a day, producing about 250 g of Ghicha yarn which sells for Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,800 per kg. The reelers get Rs 350 per kg of Ghicha produced which takes about four days; apart from this, the spun waste of 100 g/kg yarn is retained by the spinner, earning Rs 103 per day. Most of yarns reeled are used for production of fabric, while tasar waste is sold at Rs 400 per kg to enterprises which convert them into yarns in West Bengal. Peduncles of Daba and Baraf are sold at Rs 130 to Rs 140 per kg locally.

SD works with five weavers who use pit handloom for weaving; they use Korean yarn, obtained from Champa and Raigarh for Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,000/kg, in the warp and Raily reeled and Ghicha yarn in the weft. About 16 g of Korean yarn and 35 g of reeled yarn is used in a metre of cloth. The weavers are able to complete about 4 m of plain yardage in a day, earning a wage of Rs 40/metre (which engages two persons). The yardage is sold at Rs 210 to Rs 220 per metre for Raily and Rs 200 per metre for Daba.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

SD has been a member of Weavers’ Cooperative Society (WCS) for the last 10 years, but he has never been invited to any meetings nor has he received benefits of any of the schemes. There are more than 30 WCS in the area since the last two decades, but except for a few weavers receiving looms, no other facilities have come by.

Table 4.12 below shows the cost of production of 1 kg reeled Raily yarn under the traditional system:

Components Units Rate Amount (Rs) (Rs/unit) Cocoons 714 pieces 3/piece 2,143 Transportation 714 pieces 0.29/piece 208 Stifling cost 714 pieces 12/1,000 pieces 8 Storage loss 36 pieces 3/piece 108 Cooking Soda-178 g Soda-40/kg 32 Fuelwood-5 kg Fuelwood-5/kg Reeler’s wages 714 pieces 1/piece 714 Gross expenses 3,213

According to SD, the machine-made reeled yarn has more twist and is thus not suitable to be used in weft – very low twist or no twist at all helps the fabric look finer. For warp, the weavers have not yet attained the quality and ease of work that Korean yarns have and are thus not preferred.

The principal issues of concern are:

 Low income and low wages of reelers at Rs 68 to Rs 103 per day and of weavers at Rs 80 per day, is increasingly making the vocation less attractive  Younger generation don’t choose to take up the traditional occupation because of the low returns  Quality cocoons in the required quantities are not available  Alternative fibres/lookalikes that are cheaper and easily available offer more margin at less effort

Plate 4.20 - Weavers at Seoni-Champa; Raily and Daba thigh reeled yarns

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.21 - Thigh reeled yarn wrapped in a natua (wooden winder); Raily cocoons

Plate 4.22 - Baraf (Mandla) and Daba cocoons for reeling

Raigarh

HND is a traditional weaver in Raigarh; he has two looms and procures Daba cocoons from DoS, Raigarh as well as from Bihar and Jharkhand. More than half of the cocoons are obtained from outside Chhattisgarh as the cocoon bank provides inferior quality and cannot fulfil the demand. The reelable cocoons from Jharkhand and Bihar are procured at Rs 1,800 per thousand, while flimsy cocoons are available at Rs 840 per thousand cocoons. The annual demand per loom is 15,000 cocoons, which is hardly being met currently. Once the cocoons are procured, they are boiled with soda (100 g to 150 g per 1,000 cocoons) for an hour or two, after wrapping them with a thread to avoid them from opening. After this, the cocoons are washed to remove the soda water and then reeled using the traditional thigh reeling method.

Cooking the cocoons is very important to obtain quality yarn, as well as the amount of soda mixed into the water which needs to be optimal based on the size of the cocoons. Raily cocoons require more cooking time and hence, larger quantity of soda for softening; since the breakage during reeling is also high, it is not preferred among the weavers here. Currently, gas is preferred as fuel due to unavailability of firewood in the towns.

There are 12 to 15 reelers who carry out traditional thigh reeling at their homes; in a day, about 100 Daba cocoons can be reeled to produce 70 g of yarn and 25 g to 30 g of spun waste. The wages are Rs 40 for 100 normal size cocoons and Rs 50 per 100 large cocoons; the reelers retain the waste generated that sells for Rs 400 per kg at Champa. Thus, the reelers make about Rs 56 in a day from wages and silk waste. Due to the low remuneration, reelers are known to frequently keep yarn from 10 to 20 cocoons (~Rs 50 worth of yarn) with themselves, making a little over Rs 100 per day.

Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The best quality yarns sell for Rs 5,000 per kg – these are much finer and uniform as compared to machine spun yarns, and have low or no twist that settles well into the fabric.

Table 4.13 below shows the cost of producing 1 kg of thigh reeled yarn from Daba cocoons:

Components Units Rate (Rs/unit) Amount (Rs) Cocoons 1,428 pieces 1.80/piece 2,570 Transportation 1,428 pieces 20/ 1,000 pieces 29 Cooking costs Soda-179 g Soda-65/kg 54 LPG-1.3 kg LPG-32/kg Reeler’s wages 1,428 pieces 45/100 pieces 643 Total expenses 3,296

The flimsy (momra) and pierced (poli) cocoons are used to produce thigh/matka reeled Ghicha yarn; a hundred flimsy cocoons yield 25 g of Ghicha yarn, while 100 pierced cocoons of Grade A yield 100 g. However, pierced cocoons of good quality are not largely available at the cocoon bank. Thigh reeled Ghicha yarn is finer than machine yarn and sells for Rs 2,100/kg. The peduncles are sold to traders at Champa for Rs 200 per kg; the pupa is simply thrown away.

There are four weavers producing saris and yardage for kurta; Korean (37 denier) yarn costing Rs 4,000 per kg is used in the warp, while thigh reeled yarn and Ghicha yarn are used in the weft. Nowadays, no one uses tasar in the warp, since it involves extra effort to size and starch which increases the cost. Chinese 50 denier golden yarn costing Rs 3,400 to Rs 3,500 per kg is also used in weft whenever there is a shortage of tasar cocoons.

Table 4.14 below shows the quantity of different yarns required for weaving one metre of cloth:

Yarn Yarn required Yarn price Yarn price Used in (g/m of fabric) (Rs/m) (Rs/kg) Thigh reeled Daba tasar 24 120 5,000 Weft Thigh reeled Raily tasar 35 140 4,000 Weft Machine reeled tasar-A 43 159 3,,700 Weft Korean 37 denier 16 64 4000 Warp Chinese 50 denier 31 107 3,450 Weft Thigh reeled Ghicha 100 210 2,100 Weft Machine spun 150 262 1,750 Weft

The table shows the superiority of thigh reeled yarn over machine reeled. It has lower denier and is more uniform while lesser quantity of yarn is required (even though the price is higher); further, with almost no twist, thigh reeled yarn fits well into the requirement of weft, resulting in fabric of a finer finish. The case is similar for Ghicha yarns as well. The recovery of yarn is also higher in thigh reeling as compared to machine reeled and spun yarns, thus increasing the margins. Machine reeled yarns having a higher twist, thus decreasing the length on the hanks, as compared to thigh reeled yarn or Chinese 50 denier yarn; machine yarns also do not dye easily.

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Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The weavers weave 6 m to 7 m of plain yardage in a day, earning Rs 50 per metre (thus, making Rs 300 for two persons per day). The Korea x thigh reeled yarn yardage sells for Rs 300/metre while Korea x Chinese 50 or Korea x machine reeled yardage sells for Rs 270/metre.

Dyeing is usually not done, since the natural colour of tasar is preferred; to some extent, tub dyeing especially of saris is done using acid dyes which cost Rs 100/kg of yarn.

The main markets are Raigarh and Champa, where HND supplies regularly to two shops round the year.

Even though HND has a bunkar card (weaver’s registration card), he has never received any benefits under any schemes. In the area, only one neighbouring weaver has received a weaving shed in the past. Insurance claims are not available.

The principal issues of concern are:

 Cocoons are never available in the required quantity and quality  Good quality cocoons are given to people who can pay more for them  In the absence of cocoons, weavers are left with no option but to use alternative, cheap and artificial fibres or close down operations

A study of yarn markets conducted by Symbiotec Research Associates, Bengaluru, had reported 1,800 to 2,500 tasar looms in Raigarh and 2,500 to 3,000 in Champa in 2007. Currently, the numbers do not exceed 850 (Raigarh ~ 500, Champa ~ 350), a decline of 65% in eight years.

Scarcity and lack of quality cocoons and the high prices as well as hassles of reeling, etc. have led to the complete abandonment of tasar reeling in other traditional weaving pockets like Sarangarh, Chandrapur and Tarpali. Currently, the weavers simply use Korean yarn in the warp and Chinese 50 denier yarn in the weft. Artificial fibres like kera silk costing Rs 600/kg are also being used instead of tasar, and are often passed off as silk fabrics with huge margins.

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Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.23 – A weaver at Kotra (Raigarh) with Daba thigh reeled yarn (DTRY); Korean x DTRY yardage

Plate 4.24- Weaving Korean x DTRY yardage at Raigarh; Ghicha yarn on a bobbin at Chandrapur (Raigarh)

Plate 4.25 - Dyed Chinese yarn; Sari weaving with Korean x Chinese yardage with Ghicha borders at Chandrapur (Raigarh)

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Plate 4.26 - Daba cocoons bought from Jharkhand and (right) obtained from cocoon bank at a weaver’s shed

Plate 4.27 - Korean x Daba thigh reeled yarn saris at Raigarh

Plate 4.28 - Chinese yarn being wound; Korean x kera silk + dupion fabric at Sarangarh (Raigarh)

Plate 4.29 - Korean x Chinese + dupion sari; a three-shuttle pattern sari at Tarpali (Raigarh)

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Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Plate 4.30 - Winding dyed Korean yarn; Chinese 50 denier yarn (top) and Korean 37 denier yarn (bottom)

Plate 4.31 - Thigh reeled Raily yarn and (right) thigh reeled Daba yarn

DABA RAILY

Plate 4.32 - Thigh reeled Raily Ghicha yarn Plate 4.33 – Comparison of Raily and Daba fabric

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Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Korean 37 denier Ghicha thigh reeled

Tasar MRTM reeled

Daba thigh reeled Tasar machine spun

Chinese 50 denier Raily thigh reeled

Plate 4.34 - Different silk yarns

Fig 4.1 - Product flow diagram for post-cocoon sector

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Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

Table 4.15 below shows the details of post-cocoon activities:

Cluster SHGs Reelers Weavers Reelable Reeled yarn Ghicha yarn Silk waste Yardage and cocoons produced produced spinners consumed Lakh MT MT MT M Raigarh 20 ~ 400 ~ 100 ~ 93.57 Daba 7.02 10.5 3.25 1,50,00 Seoni- NA ~ 100 ~ 50 ~ 22.13 Raily 3.1 4.1 1.34 82,000 Champa* Bastar 2 40 ~ 15 4.2 Daba 0.34 0.19 0.12 7,500 *Champa is estimated to have about 350 families engaged in reeling and weaving activities

The principal issues in yarn conversion are:

 Unavailability of quality cocoons in the required quantities  Scarcity of Raily cocoons and hike in their prices  Unfair practices in cocoon sale and availability  Poor wages and returns in traditional reeling and weaving  Poor yarn convertibility of motorised reeling and twisting machines  Unavailability of spare parts and maintenance services of these machines  Machine made yarns are of higher denier and of inferior quality and the twist in them make them unsuitable for weaving  Technologies for proper silk waste utilisation not available  Younger generation not interested in taking up traditional weaving activity, since the returns are too low  Absence of direct market linkages for weavers, resulting in a longer value chain which reduces margins  Complete dependency on Korean 35 denier yarn or other non-tasar yarns for warp  Absence of product innovation and design centres in tasar weaving clusters  Despite a number of schemes and programmes for weavers, awareness, outreach and delivery is extremely poor  Lack of programmes for weavers’ skill upgradation  Limited scope of value addition such as calendaring, printing, dyeing, embroidery, CAD, etc.  Use of cheaper alternatives and tasar look-alike viscose (artificial silk-rayon, mercerised cotton) creating mistrust in the market and ensuing price wars  Post-cocoon activities not very successful in tribal villages  Complete lack of functional weaver’s institutions, WCS or SHGs, etc.

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4.3 Schemes and programmes for post-cocoon sector

Under the Catalytic Development Programme (12th Plan 2012-17), the following programmes are included for post-cocoon (yarn conversion) sector under Vanya Silks (Table 4.16):

Components Unit cost (Rs) Central allocation Targets (Rs) Reeling-cum-twisting machines 45,000 to 47,000 9.71 crore 3,000 machines Wet reeling machines (two basins, six ends) 46,000 to 48,800 36 lakh 100 machines 2-in-1 reeling-cum-twisting machines – 64,000 to 67,000 50 lakh 100 machines Wet reeling and twisting can be carried out in the same machine as independent activities Tasar cocoon sorting machine 51,000 to 53,000 3 lakh 10 machines Motorised/pedal operated spinning 7,000 2.13 crore 4,500 machines machines Solar operated spinning machines 19,000 14 lakh 100 machines Master reeler and technician services 2,88,000 86 lakh 50 master reelers 10 master technicians Yarn dyeing Tub dyeing 25 kg- 3.92 lakh 2.85 crore 35 tub dyeing units Tub dyeing 50 kg- 6.37 lakh 10 arm dyeing units Arm dyeing 50 kg- 17.12 lakh Vanya Silk marketing promotion As per project 1 crore As per project Reeling-weaving shed and machinery 50% premium paid 80 lakh Lump sum insurance 50 to 100 beneficiaries Health insurance Rs 1,000 + service tax 2 crore 24,000 beneficiaries premium for a family of five Developing community based organisation Rs 1.771 lakh per group 10.62 crore 1,000 SHGs for post-cocoon activities

Some of the state programmes related to the post-cocoon sector are listed below:

 DoS cocoon and yarn banks where Daba cocoons and reeled yarn of different grades are available at standard prices  Availability of cocoon stifling facility  Reeling and spinning centres promoted by DoS, where women SHGs can come and carry out reeling and spinning; machines, accessories and cooking equipment are provided, while cocoons are provided on credit and yarns are bought back  Community mobilisation and provision of machines on grant in selected villages for post-cocoon activities  Training on reeling and spinning activities for interested women  Minimum support price for tasar yarns

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5. Value Chain Analysis

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Tasar Value Chain Analysis – Chhattisgarh Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

5.1 Tasar value chain analysis

The tasar yarn produced passes through two basic operations, namely pre-cocoon related to the production of cocoons from the eggs which hatch into silkworm and consume the leaves of host plants like Asan or Arjuna to form commercial cocoons; post-cocoon where the cocoon then becomes the basic raw material for production of reeled and spun yarn that feeds into weaving for the production of fabrics.

The sub-sector study was an attempt to reveal the cost analysis of each activity related to production, inbound and outbound logistics, marketing, sales and service.

The analysis given below (Fig 5.1) shows the consolidated information on pre-cocoon activities for production of a kg of reeled yarn from Daba BV cocoons.

Input Rearing, sourcing etc. 21% 72%

Assembling and marketing 7%

Seed Grainage Commercial DFLs Seed Chemicals, rearing 2% rearing 16% etc. cocoons 21% 77% 74% 10%

Fig 5.1 - Value chain of Daba BV tasar rearing (pre-cocoon)

Thus, 36 (72 g) basic DFLs when reared yields 300 seed cocoons (86% hatching), which, when processed in the grainage, yields 50 (100 g) commercial DFLs which, when further reared (86 % hatching), yields 1,568 commercial cocoons of which 1,333 (85%) are reelable. Apart from this, it also yields 304 unreelable cocoons, 300 pierced cocoons and 445 g of peduncle which can all be processed into spun yarn as by-products.

Since most of the inputs are either provided on grant or highly subsidised, 72% of the proceeds of pre-cocoon activities are retained by the tasar cocoon producers. In terms of inputs, 90% of the expenses are on seed cocoons and DFLs, as most of the other inputs for crop rearing and grainage are provided on grant. Commercial rearers tend to gain more due to higher DFL- cocoon conversion, even though the rearers remain engaged for 90 days.

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Table 5.1 below shows the price spread analysis of the pre-cocoon activity for Daba BV under the Department of Sericulture (DoS) system:

Item Quantity Rate Amount Item Quantity Rate Amount (Rs/unit) (Rs) (Rs/unit) (Rs) BV-1 Seed rearer BV-2 Commercial rearer Basic DFLs 36 basic DFLs (72 g) 1/DFL 36 Commercial 50 commercial 1/DFL 50 DFLs DFLs (100 g) Chemicals On grant Chemicals, 52 etc. Total cost 36 Total cost 102 Seed 300 of Grade C 1.33/piece 399 Reelable 1,333 reelable 1.08/piece 1,440 cocoons cocoons cocoons- C Flimsy 69 nos 0.30/piece 21 Flimsy 235 nos 0.3 0/piece 70 cocoons cocoons Gross 420 Gross income 1,510 income Margin 384 Margin 1,408 Commercial grainage Cocoon bank Seed 300 seed cocoons 1.33 399 Commercial 1,333 reelable 1.08/piece 1,440 cocoons cocoons - C cocoons-C Chemicals, On grant Flimsy 304 flimsy cocoons 0.30/piece 91 etc. cocoons Pierced 300 pierced 0.44/piece 132 cocoons-C cocoons- C Total cost 399 Total cost 1,663 Production 50 commercial 6/DFL 300 Sale of reelable 1,333 reelable 1.20/piece 1,600 DFLs (100 g) cocoons-C cocoons- C By-product 300 pierced 0.44/piece 132 Sale of flimsy 304 pieces 0.33/piece 100 cocoons of Grade C cocoons Sale of pierced 300 pieces 0.47/piece 141 cocoons-C Gross 432 Gross income 1,841 income Margin 33 Margin 178

Fig 5.2 below shows the value chain for post-cocoon activities (Daba TV) till yarn conversion, of processing reelable cocoons to get 1 kg reeled yarn and by-products:

Input sourcing Yarn processing, 46% etc. 54%

Cocoons Electricity Storage Others Reelers Spinners

91% 2% 4% 3% 85% 15%

Fig 5.2- Post-cocoon value chain

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The 1,333 cocoons obtained are reeled into 1 kg of yarn by reelers, generating 267 g of reeling waste; meanwhile, 304 flimsy cocoons and 300 pierced cocoons are converted into 301 g of spun yarn, generating 30 g of spun waste. Apart from this, 139 g of peduncle is also generated.

As is observed, 91% of the input cost is for cocoon procurement which shows the high vulnerability of the activity to fluctuation in cocoon prices and their availability. The margins of the reelers also depend on cocoon quality and here, Grade C cocoons have been assumed; however, with Grade D, (which is generally available in higher proportion), the margins will decline. Similarly, spinners usually get flimsy cocoons (as compared to pierced ones) which also affects their margins.

Table 5.2 below shows the price spread analysis of the yarn conversion at DoS centres:

Components Quantity and rates Amount (Rs) Remarks Reeled yarn Reelable cocoons-C 1,333 nos at Rs 1.20/pc 1,600 Here reeling is done by Cooking costs - 1,333 cocoons Silk powder- 267 g 32 SHGs in their villages, Transportation costs Rs 15/packet of 2,500 cocoons 8 using MRTMs and Traveller ring, etc. Rs 3/piece 33 cocoons obtained from Storage losses 3% 31 DoS cocoon banks Electricity 10.9 units 37 Total cost 1,741 Sale of 1 kg of reeled yarn At Rs 3650/kg 3,650 Sale of 267 g of reeling waste At Rs 300/kg 80 Sale of 306 g of peduncles At Rs 150/kg 46 Gross income 3,776 Margin 2,035 Spun yarn Flimsy and pierced cocoons 300 pierced cocoons-C at Re 0.47/piece 241 Here, spinning is done by 304 flimsy cocoons at Re 0.33/piece SHGs in their villages Cooking costs - 604 cocoons Soda-40 g 2 using motorised spinning Transportation Rs 15/packet of 3,000 cocoons 2 machines and cocoons Firewood 16 obtained from DoS Storage loss 3% 7 cocoon banks Electricity 3 units 10 Total cost 278 Sale of 301 g of spun yarn At Rs 2,000/kg 602 Sale of 30 g of spun waste At Rs 200/kg 6 Sale of 139 g of peduncle At Rs 150/kg 21 Gross income 629 Margin 351

Combining the 2 sections of the Value Chain and analysing the margins of different actors is shown in Table 5.3-

Trade point Production/Acquisitio Selling Margin % share % net margin Actor n cost (Rs/kg) Price (Rs/kg) of final of total (Rs/kg) price margin Yarn 2,019 4,405 2,386 100 54 Reelers and spinners Commercial cocoons 1,663 1,841 178 42 4 Cocoon bank Commercial cocoons 102 1,510 1,408 34 32 Commercial rearers Grainage 399 432 33 10 <1 Graineurs Seed cocoons 36 420 384 9 9 Seed rearers

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It is clear that commercial rearers and reelers and spinners (SHGs) have the highest share, at 86%, of the net margin in the tasar value chain. The return on investments is also higher in these two activities.

Fig 5.3 shows that cocoon production (CP) has the highest margins, followed by yarn conversion (YC), with assembling and marketing (A&M) having the least.

23 46

90 Cost

77 Margin 54

CP A&M YC

Fig 5.3 - Margins in different steps of tasar processing

Fig 5.4 below shows how the value from a basic DFL enhances as it passes through different pre-cocoon and post-cocoon stages for Daba BV:

Daba BV cocoon production

162 commercial 100 basic DFL 972 seed cocoons 4,957 reelable cocoons DFLs Rs 100 Rs 1,293 Rs 5,354 Rs 972 Value generated- Rs 83/DFL 228 flimsy 972 pierced cocoons 875 flimsy cocoons Rs 428 cocoons Rs 75 Rs 289

Yarn conversion

101 g spun 1.01 kg spun 3.72 kg reelable waste yarn 990 g reel 1.62 kg yarn Rs 20 Rs 2,020 waste peduncles Rs 13,578 Rs 298 Rs 243

Value generated- Rs 162/DFL

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Table 5.4 shows employment generated in producing 100 kg of reeled tasar yarn and its by-products:

Node Materials No. Person days % share Per actor Earning/HH/actor Seed rearers 3,600 (7.2 kg) DFLs 3 600 14 200 320 Grainage 30,000 seed cocoons 2 100 2 50 66 Commercial 5,000 (10 kg) DFLs 5 3,000 67 600 230 rearers Reelers (MRTM) 1,30050 reelable cocoons-C 4 528 12 132 386 Spinners 30,000 pierced cocoons-C 2 240 5 110 148 29,850 flimsy cocoons

Thus, the production of 100 kg of reeled yarn from Daba BV cocoons of Grade C generates 4,468 person days of employment (4,608 person days as per minimum wage of Rs 223/day for unskilled work), with 83% of the share commanded by cocoon production and the remaining by yarn conversion. Apart from this, it also generates 27 kg reeling waste, 30 kg of spun yarn, 3 kg of spun waste and 44 kg of peduncle that generate more person days of employment.

The seed rearer gets better returns due to the seed cocoon bonus and better quality DFLs, along with favourable environment. The income of the reelers and spinners depend on cocoon quality and price; any decline in the former and increase in the latter greatly affects their returns.

5.2 Sub-sector constraint analysis

The constraints and opportunities expressed by the various actors of the tasar value chain as well as key informants, are categorised as:

 Input supply  Technology/production process  Management/organisation  Market access  Infrastructure and environment

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The following matrix in Table 5.5 below shows an illustrative view of the constraints for the sub-sector:

Constraint Cause Features Who are affected Potential Existing interventions providers Input supply Difficult to rear in Tall trees; wide This affects the Seed rearers Quality plantations, Basic Seed forests gap between entire value gap filling with Multiplication & trees; predators chain, Graineurs intercropping and Training Centre and pests; production of fencing (BSM&TC) conflicts with cocoons and Commercial Forest Committes livelihoods rearers Discussions and Basic Tasar & Forest interactions with Silkworm Seed Department; Raily collectors Forest Department Organisation prohibition on staff at ground level (BTSSO) pollarding and and forest setting up of nets committees Department of Sericulture Unavailability of Limited (DoS) quality availability of Programme plantations lands; forest land convergence to Regional Tasar cannot be used initiate more Research for monocultures plantations Station (RTRS) (at least three species are Adopting eco-friendly Kosa Vikas required) tasar rearing practices Samitis (KVS)

Limited availbility Poor protection Reserved crop for NGOs of maintenance of existing nucleus seeds in seed inputs for existing plantations zone Forest plantations Department Lack of storage Infrastructure for Cocoon quality is structures for grainage, cocoon Forest poor cocoons in the storage Comittees villages; cocoons are taken in Capacity building of District installments private graineurs Adminstration

Limited capacity Adapted Seed Limited private of graineurs and Rearers grainages diffculties in Strong monitoring ensuring and peer support Private compliance of through community Graineurs Package of institutions Practices (PoP) in Input and granages accessory Limited suppliers availability of Lack of inputs for departmental Increase staff commercial coordination;poor strength and ensure rearers staff strength; that existing staff are engagement in not engaged in unrelated unrelated government programmes at least programmes; during tasar cycle delays in implementation; unfair practices

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Unavailability of Climate change; rearing kit, etc. deforestation; Stabilising Raily eco- development race, conservation High cost and activities, and multiplication in poor availability pollution; over- zones favourable to of Raily cocoons: exploitation; high the eco-race declining quality demand; of Daba cocoons cartelisation; Poor Core area and closing regeneration; harvest in February unfair practices for Raily revival Lack of quality Climate change, High cost of Reelers Make quality cocoons Reelers and quantity of loss of habitats raw materials; available to reelers, reelable cocoons poor recovery Spinners spinners in both SHG Spinners and more and traditional High prices of Lack of labour Weavers clusters, round the Weavers cocoons outside transparency and year at reasonable Chhattisgarh unfair practices in Reeled yarn Enterprises rates Entrepreneurs cocoon banks and produced is Huge decline and Raily trade unsuitable for Stabilise and revive Traders rise in Raily weft; thigh Raily cocoons in their cocoon prices reeled yarns habitats. DoS are of higher quality and Community-based Raw Material have lower Raily cocoon Bank (RMB) Lack of efficient Reeling machines denier, thus procurement reeling machines have poor yarn less yarns are RTRS conversion and required per Improve reeling Lack of spare produce twisted, metre machine efficiency Central Silk parts for high denier yarn and design to address Board (CSB) machines which has very Reeled yarns the needs of the limited utility do not match weavers Central Tasar the quality of Research & Korean yarn Make spare parts and Training for use in warp maintenance services Institute easily available at (CTR&TI) Use of reasonable rates substitutes and Demonstration- fakes passed Cum-Technical off as tasar to Service Centre ignorant (DCTSC) consumers

High cost to obtain spares or use of crude parts

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Constraint Cause Features Who are Potential Existing affected interventions providers Technology and production process Declining quality Deforestation; High risks, crop Seed rearers Ensuring habitat BSM&TC of host plants and pollution, failures, predator preservation habitats industrial activity, attacks, diseases Graineurs CSB mining, habitat Maintenance of Lack of Chawkie loss Reduced yield, profit Commercial plantations, DoS rearing facilities rearers especially fencing High predator Poor quality cocoons CTR&TI Limited adotion attacks Raily Utilising existing of PoP for Limited community collectors programmes or RTRS scientific rearing High risks in involvement convergence for and grainage rearing during developing more NGOs (especially in monsoons Limited outreach plantations and commercial Chawkie gardens Insurance sector) Limited Mixing of eco-races companies knowledge on with decline in Quality DFL supply Conflicts with scientific rearing quality and rearing inputs Rearers Forest practices and and equipment Department and grainage Graineurs Forest Ensure compliance of Committees Limited PoP Forest availability of Department Difficulties in rearing inputs in Training and capacity and other transporting commercial building of rearers related cocoons from sector and graineurs departments remote villages Reduced Temporary cocoon Forest Basic seed rearing possibility of storage structures in Committees coincides with following ideal villages paddy cultivation PoP in forests activities, thus Exposure visits for making it difficult Lack of best practices to allocate infrastructure and household equipment for Developing a cadre of members to ensuring trainers, monitors rearing compliance of and service providers rearing and from the community Over-exploitation grainage of Raily cocoons practices Use of IT enabled information and Rearing Daba in Fluctuating weather services Raily areas weather Staff recruitment Younger No crop insurance generation not Demonstration and interested to take Poor manpower piloting of proven up the activity and lack of research initiatives effective cadre of trainers and Initiate strong service providers community insitutions at village Lack of level community institutions at the Crop insurance village/hamlet level Facilitate

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conservation and Convergence and multiplication of Raily partnerships with eco-race and avoid other Daba rearing in such departments areas

Poor efficiency of Low production Low returns Reelers Make available DoS machines turnover efficient machines Lack of quality and Spinners that can perform CSB Lack of machine Lack of skill and product range multiple functions of maintenance incentives among Weavers reeling, reeling and DCTSC services reelers to opt for Complete twisting, spinning, quality dependancy on Enterprises etc. Directorate of Yarn quality Chinese 35 deneir Rural Industries inferior and MRTM yarns are yarn for warp as well Incentivise traditional (DoRI) unsuitable twisted and of as other competitive reeling higher denier and Chinese yarns, CTR&TI Low outreach in not suitable for mulberry, art silk and Incentive-based yarn tribal areas weft or warp other fibres grading Machine and equipment Poor Does not suit the Capacity building, manufacturers remuneration of outdoor loving demonstration and and designers traditional reelers lifestyle of the exposure visits tribal No utilisation of communities Handloom parks for waste training and Competitive demonstration Absence of value yarns limit price addition of thigh reeled Waste utilisation yarns and fabrics, technology, including Lack of interest in thus, keeping pupa to augument younger wages of reelers incomes generation and weavers low Facilitate quality Waste utilisation implementation of and value existing schemes addition technology not Skill development of available younger generations

Inadequacy of resource persons

Lack of skill upgradation

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Constraint Cause Features Who are affected Potential Existing interventions providers Management and organisation Completely Lack of unity and Lack of Seed rearers Enable strong DoS dependent on reduced bargaining community DoS or NGOs for bargaining power power Graineurs institutions KVS input supply and collective support systems Ineffective Commercial Collective RTRS Community utilisation of sub- rearers procurement of institutions Lack of sector potential Raily cocoons CSB lacking or weak community Raily collectors through KVS empowerment NGOs Limited Training, convergence and Limited demonstration and Community partnerships interactive exposure service across various processes providers and departments and between the Cadre of service other resource institutions programme providers persons beneficiaries and multiple service Independent seed Allied providers and systems through departments effective Basic Seed partnerships Production Units (BSPUs)

Strong linkages, continous joint interactions and team approach

Effective implementation of existing programmes through partnerships, convergence and common action No institutions of Poor Traditional Reelers Strengthen and DoS traditional reelers remuneration reeling activity in empower and spinners decline Spinners community SHGs Limited institutions Lack of institution bargaining power New generation Weavers NGOs building support not interested Capacity building, in existing reelers Enterprises training and DCTSC and spinners Limited exposure empowerment CSB Incentivise bonuses No incentives for quality

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Constraint Cause Features Who are Potential Existing affected interventions providers Market access Low DFL rates Controlled Poor returns from Seed rearers Uniform cocoon DoS markets grainage pricing across Commercial Private states, based on Traders cocoon prices of Lack of Low price of graineurs prevailing market DoS, not based on transparency in cocoons prices with NGOs prevailing market cocoon grading Commercial minimum support rates No options to rearers price in case of CSB Lack of explore outside market failures Poor grading availability of markets Raily collectors RTRS systems Raily cocoons Cocoon Lack of trust procurement from RMB Cartelisation of Procurement of rearers based on traders in Raily Raily cocoons for Unavailability of shell weight in a KVS cocoons pagodas have Raily cocoons for participatory increased rates multiplication approach

Promote community institutions for collective marketing and enhanced bargaining power

Community procurement of Raily cocoons and keeping prices under check Limited markets Limited ability Reduced returns Reelers Institution building DoS for reelers and and skills of and market spinners SHGs/traditional Lack of motivation Spinners exposure KVS reelers for to perform better Lack of value marketing yarns Weavers Skill upgradation, DCTSC addition and Inferior quality exposure visits product range Absence of CTR&TI training and Low bargaining Yarn grading and No waste capacity building power and incentivising quality RTRS utilisation on quality, empowerment product range Incentivise NGOs Lack of and value traditional reelers institutions addition among traditional Technology for reelers No waste utlisation of wastes, utilisation value addition and technology product range available

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Constraint Cause Features Who are Potential Existing affected interventions providers Infrastructure and environment Lack of adequate Deforestation, Reduced yields and Seed rearers Tasar specific DoS grainage urbanisation, lower incomes intensive buildings mining, farm Graineurs programmes CSB activities Shrinking rearing Lack of cocoon spaces Commercial Build infrastructure Forest storage and Lack of focussed rearers through specific Department stifling facilities programmes Weather schemes and fluctuations, Raily collectors convergence CTR&TI Lack of quality Adoption of pollution, dust, plantations rearing practices unsuitable for Facilitate Forest NGOs (especially with and setting of net rearing Department to take regards to nucleus in high forests up gap filling and Allied and basic seed prompts cutting Social conflicts plantations of tasar departments rearing) of big trees; between rearing host plants spread of inputs community and KVS, SHGs, Climate change like lime and other communities Faciliate plantations JFMCs, PRI and habitat bleaching of tasar host plants destruction powder, Ecological under MGNREGA and detrimental to disturbance and other programmes on Use of pesticides biodiversity loss of biodiversity private unutilised inputs in tasar lands rearing Alternatives to Possible threat of pesticides not poisoning and Supportive policies to Cutting of big explored, diseases to human, regulate mining and trees and rearing demonstrated animal and other industrialisation in activities causing creatures forest and tasar ecological Lack of habitat areas disturbance in awareness and Allergies and high forests protection infections Supportive policies measures; and market Tasar scales in alternative Decline of Raily incentives towards grainage approaches cocoons; over- sustainable, chemical exploitaition free production process in a healthy environment

Sensitise community towards ecology and biodiversity; put a moratorium on cutting big trees; select areas that involves minimum disturbance

Habitat preservation for augumentation of Raily eco-race; core areas and banning of harvest in February

Protection measures in grainage

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Unavailability of Limited delivery Reduced returns Reelers Focussed DoS different of schemes and programme on machines suited programmes Loss of raw materials Spinners post-cocoon in Textile Dept to the needs of weaving clusters the weavers Limited outreach Idle or malfunctioning Weavers SHGs of services machines Make different Malfunctioning Enterprises machines available DCTSC and maintenance Lack of skill Lack of product range of machines upgradation Make waste CTR&TI utilisation Cocoon stifling Limited resource techniques Allied and storage persons and staff available departments

Waste no utilised Efficient Machine maintenance manufacturers No value services additions Basic mechanic training to the centre manager or experienced reeler

Make cocoon stifling machines and rat & ant proof storage available

Skill upgradation to use different machines, waste utilisation, value additions, etc.

Training on vegetable dyeing with required equipment

Supportive protective policies for tasar handlooms

Incentives for hand reeled and hand spun yarn over alternate yarns from spinning mills

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5.3 SWOT analysis

The analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) helps in developing interventions. It gives an idea of the internal strengths and weaknesses along with the external opportunities and threats that can influence the sub-sector. Certain factors would be within the reach of the interventions while others would not. The idea is to build upon the strengths and nurture them to reduce the weaknesses. Opportunities would include technology, changing business trends, competition, regulations, etc. These could accelerate the sub-sector or hold it back. Lost opportunities could become significant threats while threats could also turn into opportunities through clever management. Factors beyond control can only be addressed over time through repeated advocacy and networking towards positive change.

Table 5.6 presents the SWOT analysis: SWOT analysis of tasar sub-sector in Chhattisgarh Strengths Weaknesses  Declining forests, lack of host plants and inaccessibility in  Traditional tasar habitat Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected pockets  Traditional and experienced rearers,  Limited extension services and infrastructure processors; livelihoods and employment  Limited community-led institutions  Good returns in rearing  Limited adoption of standard rearing practices in  Huge employment generation commercial rearing  Huge demand and growing market for  Unfair practices in tasar rearing in remote villages quality products  Declining quality of cocoons  Exports and foreign exchange earnings  Decline in Raily coccons  Mature support institutions and  Rearing of Daba cocoons in Raily habitats departments  Controlled market and prices; cartelisation in Raily  Uniqueness and niche value of Raily eco-  race Lower lifting prices of the DoS means rearers prefer to sell to traders who offer higher prices. This results in a huge  Helps rejuvenate forests, carbon volume of cocoons flowing out of the state, affecting their sequestration availability for post-cocoon activities. Rearers selling to

the Tasar Rearers Cooperative Society also get poor prices.  Lack of transparency in grading  Poor availability of quality cocoons in required quantity to reelers, spinners  Unfair practices in cocoon marketing  Poor remuneration of traditional reelers and weavers  Dependency on Chinese yarns and substitutes  Inadequate infrastructure, equipment and systems for assured returns in post-cocoon  Policies, inter-departmental coordination  Climate change  Limited outreach of benefit schemes  Shortage of weavers  Limited staff in implementing department Opportunities Threats  Initiation of newly focussed project like  Climate change, outbreak of diseases Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana  Mining, urbanisation and industrialisation projects (MKSP) and the involvement of State  Social conflicts Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM)  Complementary and substitute products  Rising demand nationally and  Migration of weavers, change of vocations internationally  Limited interest of youth  Possibilities of community based  Changes in existing government policies or new ones that enterprises led by women

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 Huge employment potential favour Chinese yarns (through customs duty) and give  Indigenous population and vast forest impetus to tasar-lookalike synthetic fibres and spinning areas in south Chhattisgarh mills and policies on forest rights, mining and land  Presence of sensitive resource institutions acquisition will impact tasar and experienced NGOs  Extinction of Raily eco-race  Enormous possibilities in value addition,  Discontinuation of reeling in traditional clusters especially in post-cocoon sector  Use of alternative yarns instead of tasar in fabric  Huge opportnities in production of tasar production reeled yarn that can substitute the Chinese yarn  High acceptance and demand internationally for innovative spun yarns from unreelable cocoons and waste  Environmentally sound green products  Carbon sequestration  Large number of beneficiary programmes  Convergence through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Forest Department and IAP funds in establishing plantations in view of availability of large tracts of private and forest wastelands and infrastructure  Demonstration and adoption of best practices and new technologies

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6. Conclusion and Recommendations

The present tasar value chain analysis in principal tasar clusters of Chhattisgarh shows the current scenario of the sub-sector in the region. Tasar rearing being a traditional supplementary livelihood of the local community, as well as the presence of traditional weaving clusters offer a unique opportunity towards enhancing the sub-sector and reducing vulnerabilities. The presence of seasoned, experienced and dedicated government departments as well as capable NGOs offers unique advantages. Tasar products are in high demand across national and international markets, and this trend continues to rise.

However, in spite of these very positive conditions, the primary concern is the lack of rearing spaces and their quality. Rapid deforestation, mining, urbanisation, pollution with repercussions of climate change and vulnerable habitat along with changing lifestyles are taking a huge toll on tasar. One of tasar’s best eco-races, Raily has greatly declined and is not showing any signs of good recovery. The quality of Daba cocoons has also gone down, with grades C and D cocoons dominating the sector. Though the state is endowed with enormous plantations, many have poor maintenance and protection, resulting in degradation of the valuable resource. There is almost a complete lack of community institutions, their nurturing and empowerment, which is the main reason for unfair practices in grading and cocoon lifting and cartelisation of traders for the Raily cocoons; all this is leading to limited revival of Raily eco-race as well as exploitation of marginal communities in remote villages. Lack of staff in required numbers is a major bottleneck in implementation of quality programmes and monitoring as well as trouble-shooting; there is high workload on existing staff who are not only hard pressed to perform in the tasar sector, but are also burdened with additional responsibility of unrelated programmes, reducing their focus and motivation. In terms of DFL production, the Central Silk Board’s Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres (BSM&TCs) in the state are one of the best in the country, but they are highly overloaded and need other partners. Elite and nucleus seed production need great attention, along with plantations and other infrastructure, in order to meet the stringent standards expected of them. Since the cost of DFL is fixed while seed cocoon prices are revised regularly, private graineurs have low and unattractive margins.

In the post-cocoon sector, the burning problem is the lack of quality cocoons in the required quantities; in spite of the huge potential of traditional weaver clusters in the state, the lack of quality and adequate cocoons are forcing weavers to abandon tasar and move to Chinese yarns, mulberry and other fibres. The extremely low wages of traditional reelers and weavers have taken a huge toll on the sector with many moving out of the vocation or shifting to other yarns. Currently, Korean 37 denier yarn rules the warp filament, and unavailability of quality Daba and Raily cocoons in required volumes and at a fair price is increasingly pushing weavers to opt for Chinese and other yarns in the weft instead of tasar. Thigh reeled yarns (TRY) are of a superior quality in terms of denier as well as uniformity, as compared to motorised reeling and twisting machine (MRTM) yarns; TRY also suits the need of the weaver for use in weft and is cost effective. However, the current approach of squeezing out the cocoon supply from traditional weavers to provide SHGs using MRTMs is slowly killing the traditional yarn sector. Among the SHGs too, their potential and abilities are not being fulfilled, since two-third of the time, they do not have cocoons to reel or spin. Also, poor quality cocoons are given to them for yarn conversion and the SHGs barely have any say in this regard. MRTMs are low performers and produce yarn with high twist which has very limited need and market; being of higher denier and non-uniform, it is more problematic for the weaver to weave these yarns, as well increasing his cost.

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There is an urgent need to introduce better machines that meet the expectations of the traditional reelers and weavers through a participatory approach, and incentivise traditional reeling and weaving activities. The situation is alarming with more and more weavers either leaving the vocation or opting for alternative yarns; this will ultimately affect the entire tasar value chain by reducing the price and demand of cocoons. The poor returns fail to attract the youth and it is mostly the older weavers who are still engaged in tasar and after whom, the activity may simply perish.

Based on the lessons and learning from the study, some recommendations suggested are presented in Table 6.1 below:

Pre-cocoon Post-cocoon  Ensure in-house quality plantation and infrastructure  Make cocoons available in required quantity for elite seed production and quality at a fair price throughout the year,  Ensure quality plantation and exclusivity for especially for traditional weavers production of nucleus seeds  Provide incentives for traditional reelers and  Strengthen Pilot Project Centres (PPCs), Basic Seed weavers Production Units (BSPUs) and adapted grainage  Machines with high efficiency and multiple owners to take up basic DFL production so the load on range of yarn production are required Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centres  Make maintenance and spare parts services (BSM&TCs) is reduced and focus on nucleus seeds is available at fair rates increased  Techniques for waste utilisation and value  Develop plantations and gap filling in forests areas; addition are required protect and maintain old plantations  Incentivise niche products based on Raily and  Conserve Raily habitats, maintain core zones, reduce Mandla yarns over-exploitation by banning collection in April  Improve quality by grading yarn and providing  Conserve and multiply the Mandla eco-race incentives  Encourage eco-friendly rearing of tasar  Provide training, capacity building and  Empower the community to collect and procure Raily exposure on new technologies and best cocoons at fair prices practices  Provide inputs, including rearing kits, for commercial  Vegetable dyeing and blending rearing  Provide rat-proof cocoon storage facilities in  Increase DFL sale prices to motivate graineurs the villages  Develop a cadre of local service providers  Build strong community institutions  Use friendly tools for pebrine detection  Supportive policies and incentives for  Nurture and empower community institutions enterprises  Provide temporary cocoon storage structures in the  Increase outreach and service delivery of villages welfare schemes  Uniformity in cocoon prices across states  Skill upgradation and motivation for youth  Participatory and transparent grading system of  Demonstration of emerging new technology cocoons in post-cocoon activities  Supportive policies towards habitat conservation  Develop and increase resource persons in the  Demonstration and piloting of emerging and post-cocoon sector sustainable technologies  Consumer awareness on tasar and real silk  Convergence and collaboration with existing programmes Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Forest Department, etc.  Increase staff strength through new recruitments, especially in BSM&TCs and other Central Silk Board (CSB) units

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References

 A Handbook of Textiles, Ann M Collier, 1974  Annual Report, Central Silk Board, 2013-14  Central Provinces District Gazetteer - Bilaspur, A E Nelson, 1910  Central Provinces Gazetteer - Feudatory States, E A Brett, 1909  Detailed Project Report for Large Scale Tasar Sericulture Based Livelihoods in Chhatisgarh under MKSP, PRADAN, 2013  Dictionary of Economic Products of India Vol-6 Part III, Sir George Watt-1893  Lessons in Tropical Tasar, Ed -Dr K Thangavelu, Central Tasar Research & Training Institute, 2000  Manual of CDP Projects 12th Five Year Plan - Vanya Sector  Monograph of Silk for Central Provinces - F C Dewar, 1901  Non-Mulberry Silks, FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin -29, 1979  Note on the performance of Indian Silk Industry, Central Silk Board, 2014  Silk Reeling & Testing Manual, FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin - 136, 1999  Strands of Life - PRADAN Handbook, 2005  Study Report - Tasar Silk Yarn, Assessing Market Potential, Nanda et al, Symbiotec Research Associates, 2008  Tasar Cocoon Handbook, PRADAN, 2006  The Maria Gonds of Bastar, W V Grigson - 1938  The Wild Silks of India, principally Tusser, Thomas Wardle, 1881  Tropical Wild Silk Cocoons of India, Mohanty, 2003  Wild Silk Technology, Kavane & Sathe, 2011

In addition, a number of websites of the Central Silk Board and other relevant web-based information were also consulted.

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Acknowledgements

I would sincerely like to thank the contribution of various sub-sector actors, particularly the rearers, grainage owners, Raily collectors, reelers, spinners, weavers, T/KVS (Tasar/Kosa Vikas Samitis) members, self-help group (SHG) members, community resource persons and cocoons and yarn traders who took time out to share their experiences and views with me.

I am very thankful to Sri. J Srivastav, Deputy Director, Sericulture (Bastar), and Sri. Kawal, Deputy Director, Sericulture (Raigarh), for facilitating my study and providing basic statistics on tasar production. I am also thankful to Sri. Dayashankar Sahoo, Field Officer (Bastar), and Sri. Viswakarma, In-charge of Kosa Centre at Jagdalpur (Bastar district), and Sri. J J Gupta, Sri. Pradhan and Sri. Thakur at Department of Sericulture (DoS), Raigarh, for accompanying me to the field areas as well as providing tasar related information and valuable insights into tasar activities in the respective districts. I am also thankful to Sri. Rajak at DoS, Raipur, for providing tasar related statistics for Chhattisgarh state.

I am thankful to Dr. G P Mahobia of Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur (Bastar) for providing information and insights on Raily conservation, as well as Mr. Rao for accompanying me to the Institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) field areas in Bastar and Kondagaon districts. I am thankful to Sri. Kachh of Kosa Cooperative at Jagdalpur for providing information on the activities of the centre with respect to tasar weaving as well as the situation of Raily cocoons and reeling in the area.

I am very thankful to Dr. Patnaik of Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSM&TC), Bastar, Dr. R T Rao of Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation (BTSSO), Bilaspur, Dr. Debasish Das and Dr. N J Mishra of BSMTC, Pendari and Dr U N Singh of BSMTC, Boirdadar, for very insightful discussion regarding the role of BTSSO, Central Tasar Silkworm Seed Station (CTSSS), BSM&TCs, nucleus and basic seed production and the situation of tasar in their respective regions. I am thankful to Dr. M Jaykumar of P4 Unit at Kota for providing information regarding the activities of the unit.

My special thanks to Sri. Siddiqui of BSM&TC, Bastar, for accompanying me to the field areas as well providing information on the seed rearing activities, etc. in the area. I am thankful to Sri. Mithailal of Champa for all the help during my interaction with the weavers in the area.

I am thankful to Sneha Kaushal, Aditya Kumar, Leboram and Arpon of PRADAN team in Bastar, for facilitating my visits to the villages and helping me understand the pagoda system for Raily conservation as well as all-round support during my stay. I am thankful to Kamal, Narendra, Nalinikant and Sujit of PRADAN teams in Raigarh and Lailunga for facilitating my visit to the rearers at Lailunga and reelers and spinners in Raigarh district as well as all-round support during my stay. I am indebted to Binod Raj Dahal of Tasar Development Foundation (TDF), Tatanagar, for planning and facilitating the study and all-round support.

Finally, I am grateful to Dr. K Sathyanarayana, Scientist D & MKSP Project Coordinator, Central Silk Board Bangalore (CSB), and Sri. Shamshad Alam, Integrator - Tasar Theme, Tasar Development Foundation (TDF), Deoghar, for giving me this opportunity and guidance and all-round support in conducting the study.

The views expressed in the report are largely that of the stakeholders and do not reflect that of the author or organisations engaged in the study or programme.

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List of respondents

Respondent/s Location Sri. Srivastav Deputy Director, Sericulture, Bastar Sri. Kawal Deputy Director, Sericulture, Raigarh Sri. Dayashankar Sahoo Field Officer, Department of Sericulture (DoS), Bastar Sri. Viswakarma In-charge, Kosa Centre, Jagdalpur Sri. Pradhan Field Officer, DoS, Raigarh Sri. Thakur DoS, Raigarh Sri. J J Gupta DoS, Tamnar, Raigarh Sri. Rajak DoS-, Raipur Dr. G P Mahobia Regional Tasar Research Station (RTRS), Jagdalpur Sri. Rao RTRS, Jagdalpur Sri. Kachh Kosa Cooperative, Jagdalpur Dr. Patnaik Basic Seed Multiplication & Training Centre (BSM&TC), Bastar Dr. R T Rao Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation (BTSSO), Bilaspur Dr. Debashis Das BSM&TC, Pendari Dr. N J Mishra BSM&TC, Pendari Dr. U N Singh BSM&TC, Boirdadar Dr. M Jaykumar P4 Unit, Kota Sri. Siddiqui BSM&TC, Bastar Sneha Kaushal PRADAN, Bastar Aditya Kumar PRADAN, Bastar Kamal Pathori PRADAN, Lailunga Narendra Barik PRADAN, Raigarh Rearers, Bastar district Madhota, Jharumar, Cherapur, Chaparbhanpuri, Bade Gadewand, Gondiapal, Junapura, Lendra, Topar Rearers, Raigarh district Sagarpali, Amaghat, Kamarga, Piprahi, Katakalia Rearers, Mungleli district Kirna Rearers, Bilaspur district Bansajhal Rearers, Kondagaon district Paroda Graineurs, Raigarh district Sagarpali Reelers SHG, Raigarh district Kossampalli Spinners SHG, Raigarh district Bhikarimal, Bijna, Kotarlia Tasar/Kosa Vikas Samitis Topar, Lendra (Bastar), Sagarpali (Raigarh) Weavers Jagdalpur, Seoni-Champa, Raigarh, Tarpalli, Chandrapur, Sarangarh Entrepreneurs Seoni-Champa, Raigarh Traders Jagdalpur, Raigarh

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Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, plays a pivotal role in the overall development strategy of the country. Its vision and mission focus on sustainable and inclusive growth of rural India through a multipronged strategy for eradication of poverty, by increasing livelihoods opportunities, providing social safety net and developing infrastructure for growth. This is expected to improve the quality of life in rural India and correct the developmental imbalances, aiming, in the process, to reach out to the most disadvantaged sections of society.

Central Silk Board (CSB)

The Central Silk Board (CSB) is a Government of India organisation under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles. The mandated activities of CSB are research and development, research extension, maintenance of four-tier silkworm seed production network, leadership role in commercial silkworm seed production processes, promotion of Indian silk in domestic and international markets and advising the Union Government on all matters concerning sericulture and the silk industry. These activities are carried out by 325 units of CSB in different states. The CSB has also been implementing the centrally-sponsored scheme, Catalytic Development Programme aimed at the synergy and dissemination of technologies and innovations developed by its R&D units and incentivising investments among stakeholders to enhance production, productivity and quality of silk.

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN)

PRADAN is a public service organisation working in the endemically poor and backward regions of Central India, with collectives of rural women to help them to achieve an enhanced sense of dignity and well-being through sustainable livelihoods. PRADAN works towards large scale alleviation in human condition through multiple stakeholder collaborations. PRADAN’s efforts impact over 3.5 million people directly in 45 districts of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Revitalising tasar sericulture is one of PRADAN’s livelihood initiatives whose success has transformed the lives of more than 10,000 poor tribal families in these states. The Central Silk Board and PRADAN are currently working to scale up the tasar sericulture programme in partnership with the MoRD.

This publication has been made possible with financial support from Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, under the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) tasar project in Chhattisgarh.

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