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Sericulture in Andhra Pradesh
Sericulture is an agro-based labour intensive industry which
provides gainful employment to the rural and unemployed youth and
helps to uplift the socio-economic status of small and marginal
farmers . The economic advantages of Sericulture industry lies in
its high employment potential with low investment. One hectare of
mulberry creates employment to (12) persons throughout the year. 60%
of them are women thereby supporting a greater role for women in
development. It requires low gestation period and continues to yield
for 15-16 years with little expenditure on maintenance. It gives
higher returns, unlike other agricultural crops.
Andhra Pradesh occupies 1st position in productivity and 2nd
position in the country next to Karnataka in production of Silk.
Andhra Pradesh produces all the four popular varieties of Silk worm
cocoons namely Mulberry, Tasar, Eri and Muga. Andhra Pradesh has got
very strong and traditional weaving base with more than a lakh
number of hand looms mostly concentrated in weaving pockets like
Dharmavaram, Pochampally,, Gadval, Patur, Peddapuram,Narayanpet,
etc., In the last decade number of cotton weavers have taken to silk
weaving in centers like Rayadurg and Proddatur because of better
income in silk weaving.
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