Sector
Agriculture
Keyword

Silk Farming

Sericulture

Silk Industry

Minimum ? No entry barrier, preferably 5th standard pass

Certified training for Seri-Culturist (programme aligned to AGR/ Q4701 released by Agriculture Skill Council of India)

Preferably six months experience in silkworm rearing assistance

The tasks a Seri-Culturist is expected to perform include:

Building and maintaining the rearing houses for silkworms

Choosing the correct plant variety for silkworms

Cultivating plants for feeding the silkworms

Rearing the silkworm from larval stage to cocoon stage

Applying the appropriate pesticides

Extracting the raw silk fibres from the silkworms

Spinning the raw silk fibres

Knowledge of the silkworms? growth cycle

Familiarwiththevarietyofplantsusedasfeedforthesilkworms

Skilled to cultivate different varieties of plants used as feed for the silkworms

Basic knowledge of leaf harvesting techniques

Knowledge of the specifications required for the building where the silkworms are reared

Familiar with the temperature and humidity levels required to be maintained for the rearing process

Basic knowledge of tools used in rearing

Knowledge of the nutrient requirements of silkworms

Knowledge of hygiene maintenance procedures

Basic knowledge of the disinfectants used while rearing

Knowledge of the spinning process of silk harvested

Will be updated

Physically fit

Detail-oriented

Manual dexterity

Risk taker

Willingness to undertake continual learning

It is a field job

May or may not require supervising a team of other field Workers

Part time jobs may be available in some farms

Local travelling is a part of this job role

Work from home is not available

Working hours

Working is 9 hours everyday, 6 days a week

Shift system may be applicable as per the farm norms.

Is the job suitable for a candidate with special needs?No

This job is not listed as hazardous or dangerous under The Factories Act, 1948 (section 87)

Occupational hazards include exposure to all weather conditions

Health hazards include exposure to disinfectants, insecticides, pesticides and other chemicals, susceptible to skin allergies by infected worms

For freshers-`5,000 to `8,000 per monthFor workers with 1 year experience - `10,000 to `15,000 per month(These figures are indicative and subject to change)

India?s Sericulture Sector

Silk has been intermingled with the life and culture of Indians. India has a rich and complex history in silk production and its silk trade dates back to the 15th century. Sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 7.85 million persons in rural and semi-urban areas in India. Of these, a sizeable number of workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. India?s traditional and culture-bound domestic market and an

amazing diversity of silk garments that reflect geographic specificity, have helped the country to achieve a leading position in silk industry. India has the unique distinction of being the only country producing all the five known commercial silks. For example , mulberry, tropical tasar, oak

and muga, of which muga with its golden yellow glitter is unique and prerogative of India. India continues to be the 2nd largest producer of silk in the world. Among the four varieties of silk produced, as in 2012-13, Mulberry accounts for 79% (18715 MT), Tasar 7.3 % (1729 MT), Eri 13.2% (3116 MT) and Muga 0.5% (119 MT) of the total raw silk production of 23,679 MT. This is against the production of 23060 MT of silk by end of XI Plan (2011-12) in the country. There has been a significant increase in raw silk production in 2013-14.1

Large companies that produce and sell silk

Silk farm owners

Government jobs

The job openings are in small towns and villages across the country2