ReshaMandi
Context
- More than 12,000 sericulture farmers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra currently use the artificial intelligence-based application, ReshaMandi.
- Reshamandi is helping sericulture farmers get better prices for their produce to ensuring quality of cocoons and yarn to reelers, weavers and retailers.
Silk
- Silk is a natural fiber that consists of fibroin, which is the protein some insects secrete to make cocoons.
- Essentially, the fiber is the material these insects produce to make their cocoons and nests.
Sericulture
- Sericulture, the production of raw silk by means of raising caterpillars (larvae), particularly those of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).
- China is said to be the origin of sericulture. In India the cultivation dates back to 140 AD.
Types of Silk
- India produces all the four types of silk i.e.
- Mulberry silk (91.7%);
- Tasar silk (1.4%);
- Eri silk (6.4%); and
- Muga silk (.5%)
- Mulberry Silk –Mulberry silk is the softest and the most durable fabric.
- Eri Silk – Another name for eri silk is peace silk because its production does not include the killing of silkworms. It is heavier and more durable in comparison to mulberry silk.
- Tasar Silk – India and Japan produce this variety of silk. Green silkworms are the producer of Tasar silk.
- Spider Silk – It is the most expensive variety of silk. Manufacturers use spider silk to produce microscopes, bulletproof vests, etc.
- Muga Silk – The natives of Assam produce this variety of fabric using semi-domesticated muga silkworms.
- Sea Silk – Another name for sea silk is mussel silk since species of mussel of the Mediterranean Sea produce it.
- Coan Silk – Silkworms, which feed on oak, pine, and juniper trees produce coan silk. This variety is found in Greece, Turkey, and Italy.
Central Silk Board is a statutory body established under the Central Silk Board Act, 1948. It functions under the aegis of Union Ministry of Textile. It is a national organization for overall development of silk sector in India. |