SERICUL TURE AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGE - Institute for ...

The case of Tba..'1g3vel of E N Para (See Case No.2 in appendix I, for the
d.!scnpnon of the case) is a typical example of a progressive sericulturist belonging
to the medium caregory The success in sericulture has not come easily for him too,
though he had better access to resources. He could., however, stabili~ his life only
"lth the help of sericulture. In spite of being a medium farmer, the greater part of
the anennon goes only for senculture. The same is the case "lth all his brothers.
R.:1gu\ ann uf Senpura. a medium farmer, had been exposed to sericulture since the
rrud 70s. when he was part of the Joml family and his brother was the main
sencultunst He tumse1f became the main senculturist in 1983, when he took up
senculture. Ul the same year when the famiJy was split and the land was pamtioned.
Toda~. he c1auns that mth sericulture income, he had dug a bore-well, and thus
lIDproved Ius Imganon source Along "lth this, he has also increased his scale of
senculture operauon He had constructed a water channel from his well to his
1ands He was also able 10 construct a pukka house. ~ow, he says that he also lends
money for mrerest He has now reduced his involvement in sericulture as his son
has taken over the senculture management from him, recently.
\fost of the progressive sericulturists have been long-time
sericulturists. \\ith an experience of more than ten years. Their
performance ill senculture has brought them a reputation and respect
\\ithin the ... iUage. They are also the ones who can withstand any sudden
adversines in sericulture. The progressive sericulturists, as they gain
experier,ce and stability, gradually turn into 'gentle-men sericulturists',
reducing their direct involvement in sericulture and increase the use of
hired labour or contract labour, under their direct supervision.
\10han.1 Kumar of K K Pura, for U1staDce, has practically stopped his mvolvement
lD sen culture except for the preparauon of the chawkie worms In such cases, the
partlclpauon of the women members of the famiJy IS also reduced though not totaJly
absent
Even this is seen as a manifestation of mobility. As a step further,
they either turn to become capitalist sericulturists or give up sericulture
itself to plunge into some other lucrative business.
Sericulture for the Poor: For Mencher (1978: 10), economic
development is . a process of steady rise in the material conditions of