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

activities, all of which are land-based. There is a moderate involvement
of work force in animal husbandry too. The non-land based activities
include business, salaried service, traditional labour, etc., which have
attracted a marginal proportion of the work force. Agriculture serves as a
source of cash income for about three fifths of the households. Groundnut
has emerged as a major cash crop in the village, occupying more
than one fourth of the total cropped area. Even the subsistent crops like
paddy has assumed a commercial nature. Mulberry, the land-base of
sericulture, occupies just six per cent of the total cropped area. Yet,
sericulture has demonstrated its high potentiality not only for its
commercial richness, but also for its change processes in every aspect of
socio-cultural life of the rural households. Sericulture has expanded the
economic base of the village and enhanced the process of
commercialisation.
Sericulture, which is confined to the irrigated landholders alone,
is a major source of income for about 22 per cent of the households,
constituting about three fourths of the sericulture families. Though it has
been adopted by different castes, its predominant presence is obvious
among the dominant caste, as evidenced not only in Seripura, but also in
other villages studied. The performance is also better among the
dominant caste than among other communities. Sericulture is more
successful in complex nuclear family types and among the medium-size
land-holders. Contrary to general assumption, the proportion of hired
and male labour is higher than the family and female labour among the
higher performers while the reverse IS true among the lower performers.
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