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

CHAPTER IV
SERICULTl;RE PROCESS: A PROFILE
Development programmes may not evoke similar response from
all sections of people, though it is assumed that 'people everywhere
respond to economic incentives pe,ceiving their significance in much the
same way as the managers' (Gabriel 1991:2). In reality, there could be
multiple responses, depending on multiple factors and situations.
Sericulture as practised by the people could serve either as
meeting their subsistence needs alone or as providing a substantial cash
ITIcome. Elements of both aspects could also be present in the practice of
sericulture. only in varying degrees. Thus, sericulture could be viewed in
a contlnuJrn with both these aspects representing their extremes. There
are some basIC indicators that could help in understanding the nature of
its practice The level of subsistential dependency, the intensity of
family labour. the scale of operation, the extent of risk-taking and
readiness to adopt new technology, etc., are some such indicators.
Considering these aspects. sericulture could be an enterprise of
subsistence nature in some areas and a full-fledged commercial
enterpnse ITI some other areas. It could also vary among different
sericulturists of the same area. r-.:aturally, the practice of sericulture as a
commerCIal enterpnse would entail a high cost technology and may
appear to be more successful. On the other hand, at a subsistence level,
it may be practised as a way of life. Charsely (1982: 94-9) conceives
two categories of people. one who consider sericulture a 'practice' and
the other who consider It a 'business'. The differential responses and
80