Role of sericulture in rural livelihoods: A study of silk development centre, ward no. 10, khopasi, Kavrepalanchok

Abstract

This study was carried out entitled “Role of Sericulture in Rural Livelihoods: A Study of Silk Development Centre, Ward No. 10, Khopasi, Kavrepalanchok” aiming to examine the current socio-economic status of the respondent; to assess the role of sericulture in local livelihoods and to examine the problems and constraints of sericulture in the focused area. The descriptive research design was followed. Household survey questionnaire, Key Informants Interview (KII), Field Observations, focus group discussion were used to gather the primary source of information. A visit was also made to the Sericulture Development Division, Khopasi, Kavre. A set of questionnaires was prepared to address the area for mulberry cultivation, amount of silk produced in the previous year, the current market price, silk processing, and marketing channels, production and marketing constraints, and were asked to the selected respondents of the study area to collect the primary data. Secondary source of information was collected from SDD, Reports from Sericulture Association Nepal (SAN), rapid market appraisal with the competent traders, buyers as well as whole sellers, and desk reviews of published and unpublished research articles. Livelihood generation is one of the major potentials of sericulture and silk industry. Sericulture has emerged as the most important cash crop with minimum investment, low gestation period, high employment potential and highly remunerative return. It is well suited to the agrarian economy of the rural people. Sericulture is suitable for every section of society including a big farmer or a landless aged person irrespective of man or a woman. Involves simple technology, which is easy to understand and adopt. Sericulture has provided downstream employment and income generation in rural and semi-urban areas, high participation for low-income and socially underprivileged groups. In this review, an attempt has been made to investigate how sericulture fulfill the opportunities of livelihood for rural people and concluded with some suggestions to improve the long-term feasibility of sericulture.