Silk Cycle: A Photo Essay

2:13 pm July 29, 2013

Kashmir has been famous for its silk production since ages and can also be traced in Kalhana’s Rajtrangni. With the passage of time, silk production in the state declined considerably over a period of nearly 50 years. According to reports, the cocoon production in Kashmir was 15 lakh kilograms of cocoons in 1940 and now it has been reported as just 3 lakh kilograms in 2012. However, the cocoon rearing activity is again picking up after Government launched different schemes for assisting people in the trade besides encouraging and boosting the production. The number of villages involved in sericulture related activity in Kashmir has gone up from 774 in 2009-10 to 1081 in 2012-13.

Moreover, the numbers of Silk rearers have gone up from 5568 in (2008-09), 6541 in (2009-10), 8031 in (2010-11) and 8339 in (2011-12) according to Sericulture Department (J&K) Government. Not only Silk rearers, but cocoon production has also gone up from 254.20 in (2008-09), 285 in (2009-10), 385 in (2010-11) and 356 in (2011-12). In term of income generation, year 2008-09 witnessed earnings of Rs 140.67 lakh, 2009-10 Rs 252.00 lakh, 2010-11 Rs 308.38 lakh and in 2011-2012 earnings went to Rs 350.00 lakh. Sericulture could become an alternative source of income for landless people in rural areas and can boost rural economy to substantial levels.

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In some areas of Pattan block, Women Self Help Group (SHG) members particularly members of Gulab SHG in Check-i-Jamaal Mir village with the support of Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) have also started rearing cocoons. In 2011, Gulab SHG earned a profit of Rs 12, 000 from cocoon rearing activity but failed miserably due to premature loss of Silk Worms. This year, they expect a significant profit from this activity.

1.Silk Worms (Larvae) feeding on Mulberry leaves for their survival during 1st Instar period — **Cohesive Cluster:** Silk Worms (Larvae) feeding on Mulberry leaves for their survival during 1st Instar period

**Hang Over:** Survival of the fittest. Newly born Silk worms compete for their share during Instar period (1st phase) and the caterpillar demands optimum temperature and humidity

3.Newly born Caterpillars or Larvae eat tender mulberry leaves so to develop silk — **Neophyte Feeding:** Newly born Caterpillars or Larvae eat tender mulberry leaves so to develop silk

**Silky Sizzle:** Caterpillar or Larvae is an economically important insect and a primary source of silk

5.Noora, one of the members of Gulab SHG from Check-i-Jamaal Mir cultivating silk worms locally — **Mothering Moths:** Noora, one of the members of Gulab SHG from Check-i-Jamaal Mir cultivating silk worms locally

6.Eggs metamorphosing into caterpillars in the early phase — **Handful Pearls:** Eggs metamorphosing into caterpillars in the early phase

7.Members of Gulab SHG rearing caterpillars or silk worms as a group activity in a specially designed shed — **Fervent Touch:** Members of Gulab SHG rearing caterpillars or silk worms as a group activity in a specially designed shed

8.Specially designed frames are spread with green mulberry leaves for Larvae to feed on them so that silk worms spin their cocoons inside these frames — **Framed Cocoons:** Specially designed frames are spread with green mulberry leaves for Larvae to feed on them so that silk worms spin their cocoons inside these frames

9.At this stage caterpillars spins silk around itself and forms cocoon and another member of Gulab SHG Shafeeqa takes care of cocoons — **Ensuring Care:** At this stage caterpillars spins silk around itself and forms cocoon and another member of Gulab SHG Shafeeqa takes care of cocoons

10.White cottony balls are nothing but cocoon which has caterpillar inside and later it changes into pupa — **Silk Broom:** White cottony balls are nothing but cocoon which has caterpillar inside and later it changes into pupa

11.Noora, leader of Gulab SHG has been rearing cocoons since past three years as a seasonal group activity and expects to raise 80 kgs of cocoon from 120 kgs of silk worm seeds — **Silk Routine:** Noora, leader of Gulab SHG has been rearing cocoons since past three years as a seasonal group activity and expects to raise 80 kgs of cocoon from 120 kgs of silk worm seeds

**Precious Thread:** Cocoons are opaque and about two inches long

13.Members of Gulab SHG holding cocoon in their hands to check the quality of the silk — **Qualitative Analysis:** Members of Gulab SHG holding cocoon in their hands to check the quality of the silk

14.Treasurer of Gulab SHG, Shafeeqa taking cocoons for sorting purposes — **Sorting Silk:** Treasurer of Gulab SHG, Shafeeqa taking cocoons for sorting purposes

15.SHG members sort cocoons according to colour, shape, size and texture as these affect the quality of silk — **Silk Beads:** SHG members sort cocoons according to colour, shape, size and texture as these affect the quality of silk

16.Another self help group member organising cocoons for processing purposes — **Silk Pooling:** Another self help group member organising cocoons for processing purposes

Kashmir Life’s Photojournalist, Bilal Bahadur is currently Media Fellow with Indo-Global Social Service Society’s (IGSSS) Media Fellowship Programme under European Union’s EIDHR project jointly implemented with Welthungerhife in J&K.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect views of European Union, Welthungerhilfe and Indo Global Social Service Society.