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

may be stretched for two to three days. Once mounted, the worms
engage themselves in the spinning of silk cocoons. At the end of the
process of spinning, the cocoons are collected and cleaned. The cocoons
are then taken to one of the regulated cocoon markets. The reelers come
to the cocoon markets to bid for the cocoons. The cocoons, thus bought,
are put to undergo further transformation, by way of reeling, in the
process of silk production.
The entire process of rearing is repeated again, generally with a
gap of about a month unless there are alternative plots of mulberry
available to go for rearing immediately, which is a practice with some
enterprising sericulturists and in some pockets of Tamil Nadu. All these
activities imply certain intrinsic features which are unique only to
sericulrure, and to some extent, to similar agro-industries. Some such
fearures in sericulture include the following:
l. The activity is mostly carried out within or in proximity to the living
premises .... ith exceptions. The work is quite intensive in nature and
is quite different from other types of agricultural activities.
2. It necessitates one person to be a main participant in the activity who
needs to involve and participate in the activity intensively for a
continuous one month, at each rearing.
3. The activity also demands equally supporting participants within the
household for better results.
4. To appropriate a successful crop, there needs to be perfect
understanding and co-ordination among the participants who should
also display a great dedication and commitment to the work.
S. Since the work is carried out within or nearby the living premises, it
almost becomes part of the household chores. This enables women to
take an active part in the work without much affecting the traditional
rhythm of a rural household.
6. It provides opportunities for the main participants to have wider
contacts, frequent interactions and greater familiarisation and
networking. The sericulturists develop closer contacts with other
participants in the same village, with the department officials and
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