Colophospermum Mopane – a Potential Host for Rearing Wild Silk Worm (Gonometa Rufobrunnea) in Arid Rajasthan
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(3): 549-560 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 3 (2017) pp. 549-560 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.603.064 Colophospermum mopane – A Potential Host for Rearing Wild Silk Worm (Gonometa rufobrunnea) in Arid Rajasthan V. Subbulakshmi*, N.D. Yadava, Birbal, M.L. Soni, K.R. Sheetal and P.S. Renjith ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Bikaner-334004, Rajasthan, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT India is the biggest consumer of raw silk and silk fabrics and second largest K e yw or ds producer of raw silk after China. There are two types of silk viz., mulberry silk Mopane; and vanya silk (non-mulberry silk). India has vast potential for production of wild silkworm; Gonometa vanya silks which plays a major role in rural livelihood security. Vanya silk rufobrunnea, can also be produced from the cocoons of wild silkworm, Gonometa vanya silk. rufobrunnea insect. The main food plant of Gonometa rufobrunnea is Article Info Colophospermum mopane commonly called as mopane. Mopane is a xeric species of South Africa and introduced in India for sand dune stabilization. Accepted: The review discuss about the possibility of rearing Gonometa rufobrunnea in 10 February 2017 already available mopane plantations in arid regions of the country to increase Available Online: 10 March 2017 production of vanya silk and to improve the rural economy in arid regions of India. Introduction Silk is a textile fibre produced by insects and (Ahmed and Rajan, 2011). It is agricultural commonly called as “Queen of Textiles”. output based enterprise viz., cocoons and Since ages, silk and silk products have cottage based labour intensive in nature. The attracted humankind and have found their silk enterprise includes reeling the cocoons place among the most esteemed and rich for unwinding the silk filament, weaving, silk human fabrics. India is the world's second knitting, silk wet and processing comprising biggest producer of raw silk and contributes of degumming, dyeing, printing and finishing 15.5% of world silk production. India imports other than cloth manufacturing. more than 8,500 MT/yr because of increased demand of 25,000MT/yr. By the year 2025 it The very nature of this industry with its rural is expected to increase to 45,000 MT/yr based on-farm and off-farm activities and (Kshirasagar, 2006). So, silk generation has huge employment generation potential has enormous potential in India, which could give involved the attention of the planners and extra employment opportunities for upto 6 policy makers to perceive the industry among million rural people mostly women folk one of the most appropriate avenues for socio- 549 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(3): 549-560 economic development of rural economy like Tasar silk is copperish and coarse textured, India (Gangopadhyay, 2008). For increasing secreted by the tropical tasar silkworm, the silk production we require highly Antheraea mylitta which thrives on Asan and productive and also tolerant silkworm races to Arjun trees (Terminalia sp.) and is mostly adverse climatic conditions and diseases. The used for furnishing and interiors wild silkworm (Gonometa rufobrunnea) is (Gangopadhyay, 2008). Oak tasar is a finer one of the silk producing insect which feeds variety of tasar secreted by Antheraea only on mopane (Colophospermum mopane) proylei, the temperate tasar silkworm, which can be a best addition to already available nourishes on wild oak plants (Quercus sp.) other non-mulberry silkworms to meet the and is found in large quantity in the sub- domestic demand of raw silk. An extensive Himalayan belt. Eri silk is a silk spun from review on Colophospermum mopane and open-ended cocoons and produced by the Gonometa rufobrunnea has been carried out domesticated silkworm, Samia cynthiaricini to explore the possibilities of growing wild that feeds mostly on castor leaves. Mugasilk silkworm in mopane plantation established for is an exclusive produce of India and preferred sand dune stabilization and afforestation of attire during festivities especially in Assam. It degraded lands in arid regions of Rajasthan. is golden yellow in colour secreted by Antheraea assamensis. Som (Persea Type of silks bombycina) and Soalu (Litsea polyantha) are the two major host plants of muga silkworm India is a home to a huge variety of silk (Handique and Singh, 2014). producing fauna which also includes an remarkable diversity of silk moths. This has Vanya silk industry in India made India to achieve the unique distinction of being a maker of all the five commercially History traded varieties of natural silks. These are divided into two categories viz., Mulberry silk Vanya sericulture remained obscure for quite and Vanya or Non mulberry silk. Those silks a while as a selective art of tribal and hill produced from the Bombyx mori L. silkworm, folks inhabiting the Central and North Eastern which solely feeds on the leaves of the India. It is in the recent past that this tribal mulberry plant are called as mulberry silk. tradition got significance and attracted Most of mulberry silk produced in the world attention at National level. The eco-friendly comes from this variety. In India, 92 per cent nature of the production processes, high of the country’s total mulberry silk production production potentialities within the country, comes from the states Karnataka, Andhra enduring interest for vanya silk products Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and outside, women involvement, promoted Jammu and Kashmir together. Non mulberry commercial exploitation of this art, which silk consists of all the other varieties of silk culminated in the transformation of this age except mulberry silk. Non-mulberry old custom to an industry of enormous sericulture is generally known as forest or potentiality. Vanya silks have been wild sericulture. Tropical and temperate tasar commercially exploited route back in eri and muga are the major non-mulberry seventeenth Century. The Western World silks. Other varieties i.e. fagara, coan, mussel attracted for these alien shaded silks in mid- and spider silks are limited interest. Tasar 1800 when a widespread silkworm disease silks alone contribute nearly 95% of the affected the whole European sericulture global production of non-mulberry silks. industry. Asia could not supply enough 550 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(3): 549-560 mulberry silk to meet the requirements of silk exports. The export earnings from silk Europe and North America, accordingly goods during 2015-16 were Rs.2495.99cr and making a market opportunity for vanya silks Rs. 2829.88 cr. in 2014-15 (Table 2) (DGCIS, (CSB, 2017). 2017). The vanya silk fabrics are being exported mainly from Kolkota, Bhagalpur Status of vanya silks in India New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore by the established exporters. Vanya silk product Production trends contributes approximately 10% of share of export earnings out of total export of natural Among the different varieties of silk produced silk goods. in 2015-16, mulberry accounts for 71.79% (20,478 MT) followed by tasar 9.88% (2,819 India also imports natural silk yarn and silk MT), eri 17.74% (5,060 MT) and muga fabrics apart from raw silk. The import value 0.58% (166 MT) of the total raw silk of silk and silk goods during 2013-14 and production of 28,523 MT. During 2015-16 2014-15 are given in table 3. 98% of the total over 2014-15 vanya silk has achieved 9.9% imports include raw silk, silk yarns fabrics growth (Table 1) (DGCIS, 2017). and made-ups. During 2014-15, the value of silk goods imports was Rs. 1356.73 cr. Marketing of vanya silk cocoons and compared to Rs. 1357.48 cr. in 2013-14, products indicating a decrease of 0.06% in Rupee terms. Marginal increase of 7.02% from 3260 In the last two decade steps has been taken to MT in 2013-14 to 3489 MT in 2014 has been help in marketing of vanya silk cocoons and observed in raw silk import (CSB, 2015). products viz., establishment of Raw Material Banks (RMB) in vanya sector by Central Silk Moreover, among the non-mulberry varieties, Board (CSB), Cocoon markets by Department eri has the limitation of higher cost of of Sericulture and State government productions. Tasar is gifted by nature with marketing agencies viz., Sericulture enormous potential. However, over Federation (SERIFED), Khadi Village exploitation and deforestation brought about Industries Commission (KVIC) and Tribal depletion of non-mulberry food plants. One Federation (TRIFED). Because of these should not overlook that non-mulberry agencies the bargaining power of primary sericulture holds prodigious potential for the cocoon producers has been improved. The world forestry as a supplementary activity. vanya silk products mainly sarees and fabrics Vanya (or) Non-mulberry sericulture is a for dress material and furnishings are being forest based industry specifically suited to the marketed by participating in various economy and social structure of developing exhibitions all over India mainly by nations on account of its low investment manufacturers and traders (CSB, 2017). requirement, foreign exchange earning potential and high employment opportunities. Export and import of silk goods Taxonomic status of the Gonometa Major markets for Indian silk goods are USA rufobrunnea and European countries and also exported to small markets of Asia Region. Fabrics, made- The genus Gonometa has two silk producing ups and readymade garments which account species of commercial value, Gonometa for about 95% of the total silk goods exports postica and Gonometa rufabrunnea. In spite a of the country are the major items of India’s few experts believe G. rufobrunnea to be just 551 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(3): 549-560 a subspecies of G.