ECONOMICS OF

TASAR SILK

Suresh Rai

Assistant DirectorCentral Tasar Research and Training Institute

Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India

P.O. Nagri, RanchiJharkhand

INTRODUCTION• India is the second largest producer of silk in the world. All

four kinds of silk, namely Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga are produced in the country.

• Annual silk production of the country is about 15,000 MT and foreign exchange earnings from silk goods exports is over Rs. 2500 crore

• During the year 2005-06, total production in India was recorded 17305 tones with an increase of 4.88 % over previous year 2004-05 (16500 tones).

• Mulberry Raw Silk Production during 2005-06 was 15445 tones compared to the production of 14620 tones in the year 2004-06, indicating an increase of 5.6%.

• Production of Vanya silk, viz; Tasar, Eri, and Muga raw silk during 2005-06 were 308, 1442 and 110 tons respectively over corresponding figure of 322, 1448 and 110 tons in the year 2004-05, indicating a decrease of 4.3% in tasar and 0.4% in Eri, while no change in the production of Muga raw silk .

• Over all Vanya silk has decreased by 1.06 % during 2005-06 over previous year 2004-05.

• Specially, Tasar culture is practiced by 1 lahk 40 thousand tribal families in the state of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, U.P. and Maharastra

• It gives gainful employment and attractive income to the tribal.However for silk yarn and fabric production non tribal are involved.

• Approx. 1 lakh tasar handlooms are working at present to produce tasar silk and allied mixed silk fabrics to feed to our internal market as well as for exports.

• Tasar silk has greater commercial importance specially in exports.

• Traditional markets for tasar silk export are Singapore, Hong Kong, United Arab Emrates, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia whereas non traditional markets are U.S.A, United Germany, Canada, Japan, France, Switerland, UK, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Australia and Czechoslovakia.

• The Silk export earning of Rs. 3156.16 crore has been achieved during the year 2005-06, indicating an increase of 9.7% over the previous year 2004-05 (Rs. 2879.56 crore).

• The provisional quantum of import of raw silk into the country was recorded 8334 MT during the year 2005-06 in comparison to 7948 MT for the year 2004-05, indicating an increase of 5.0 %

Tasar Rearing, Reeling and Weaving Centres

Chapa, Seoni, Chhuri, RaigarhRaigarh, Bilaspur, Korba, Surguja, Jashpur and Bastar

Chattisgarh5.

Bhagalpur, Gaya, Banka, Raxaul, Nawada

Bhabhua, Rohtas, Nawada, Jamui, Banka and Munger

Bihar1.

Mirzapur, Rabartsganj

Adilabad, Waeangal, Karimnagar and Godavariarea

Bhandara, and Chandrapur

Midnapore, Purulia and Birbhum district

Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Balasore, Cuttackand Dhenkanal district

Singhbhum, SanthalPraganas, Dumka, Giridih, Hazaribgh, Ranchi, palamau, and Dhanbad

Tasar Silkworm Rearing areas

Varanasi, Dudhi, Uttar Pradesh9.

Kosgi, hakeempet, pathureddyapalli

A.P.8.Bhandara, AndelgaonMaharastra7.

M.P6.

Tantipara, Raghunathpur, Bishnupur

West Bengal4.

Gopalpur, Fakirpur, NuapatnaOrissa3.

Bhagaiya, Kharsawa(Saraikela), Chaibasa, Puraini, Katoria

Jharkhand 2.

Reeling and Weaving areasStatesSl. No.

State-wise approximate number of families engaged in rearing reeling, spinning & weaving

0.1000.015Uttar Pradesh

7.

0.1500.200Chattisgarh / M.P.

4.

1.455

0.0300.020

0.0500.320

0.820

No. of Tribal families engaged in tasar rearing (in Lakh)

1.200Total

0.050A.P.6.0.100Maharastra5.

0.200West Bengal3..0.200Orissa2.

0.400Jharkhand / Bihar

1.

No. families involved in Reeling, Spinning & weaving ( in lakh)

StatesSl. No

Present status of Tasar Raw silk production with special reference to Bihar

• It was observed that Tasar Raw Silk contributes 16% in Vanyasilk and 1.78% in total raw silk production during 2005-06 in India which is comparatively lower than 2004-05.

• State wise progress Tasar Raw Silk during 2005-06 indicates that Jharkhand was the highest producer and contributes 31.17% followed by Chhattisgarh (29.22%) and West Bengal (11.04%) respectively.

• Bihar was leading state in Tasar silk production in India before division in Nov 2000 and its share was recorded approx. 50% 1989-99.

• Presently 95 % tasar cocoon producing areas are with Jharkhand state which covers 90% tribal population and better forest position and climatic condition.

• The production statistics of Tasar cocoons and Raw silk of Bihar state during 2002-03 to 2004-05 shows that production was more or less in static position but during 2005-06 , it was registered 14 MT Raw silk and 14,489 Kahan cocoon production which is highest till date.

• Bihar has placed at 7th rank among tasar producing states in India and its contribution was recorded 5%.

• Main Tasar cocoon producing areas are namely viz; Bhabhua, Rohtas, Nawada, Jamui, Banka and Munger. There are two Tasar Pilot project centers and 12 Tasar seed supply sub stations in Bihar.

• Presently the Annual Target of Production & Supply of Seed of each TPPCs is 4000 dfls and each TSSSSsis 5000 dfls.

• SGSY Project has been launched in Banka and Jamui in Bihar for development of Tasar and Ericulture. It has shown positive and significant achievement in comparison to Jharkhand state during 2003-04 and 2004-05

• There are several other schemes of NGO ‘PRADAN’ , MORD, DOS are working in the state for the development of silk industry and aims to provide employment to the people who are landless or marginal farmers and young educated persons.

• Handloom is one of the major labour intensive cottage industry engaging 3.7 lakh weavers in the state. Foreign exchange is also being earned through export of handloom products.

• Since several • Presently Bihar has major avenue to exhilarate

the handloom sector so that cocoon and raw silk produced by neighboring state Jharkhand will be best utilized by Weavers in the state.

• In Bihar approx. 22,600 handlooms and 45,500 weavers are working directly or indirectly in reeling, spinning and weaving of silk related fabrics in different clusters. Bhagalpur is one of the prominent cluster for this avocation.

India - Raw Silk Production (MT) during 2000-01 to 2005-06

1650018801101448322146202004-05

1730518601101442308154452005-06

1574217721051352315139702003-04

1631917021021316284146172002-03

1735115091001160249158422001-02

158571425991089237144322000-01

TotalMugaEriTasar

Total SilkNon-MulberryMulberryYear

State-wise Tasar Raw Silk Production (MT) during 2000-01 to 2005-06

322332U.P.

543---Uttranchal

342627272315West Bengal

213337543319Orissa658933Maharastra161413762M.P.969184909296Jharkhand90120118647773Chattisgarh14888824Bihar2018142132AP

05-0604-0503-0402-0301-0200-01YearState

Silk Import (quantity in tons) and Export (value crore Rs.)

118.892879.58176.8383342005-06113.452747.68168.1379242004-05114.752779.19196.4492582003-04

94.722294.05192.1190542002-0397.422359.58144.4568082001-02

100.002421.98100.0047132000-01

Growth Index (base year 2000-01)

Value (Crore Rs.)

Growth Index (base year 2000-01)

Quantity (tons)

ExportImportYear

Trend in Growth Index of Non-Mulberry Silk in India

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06

Year

Gro

wth

Inde

x

Tasar Eri Muga

Tasar Raw Silk Production in Bihar

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06Year

Valu

e (t

ons)

Percentage Contribution of major tasar silk producing states

0.005.00

10.0015.0020.0025.0030.0035.0040.0045.00

00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06Year

Valu

es (%

)

CHG JHK ORS WB

Trend in Growth Index of Silk Import (quantity MT) and Export (value crore Rs.)

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

Year

Inde

x

Import Export

Existing System of Marketing Cocoons and Raw Silk

The cocoons and raw silk are the intermediaries of Vanya silks. These intermediary products are largely marketed through the Mahajans irrespective of type of Vanya silk, state or presence of Govt agencies. Various systems that prevail in Tasar sector are as follows:

Tasar sector:• In Chhattisgarh and the adjoining states like,

Jharkhand, MP, Bihar and West Bengal, the cocoon producers sell their produce to Mahajans through contract or forward sale agreement or take their produce to the weekly haats for sale. Mahajans generally supply cocoons to weaver-cum-reeler groups and collect the weaved fabric from them by paying conversion charges. The cocoon produces, reelers / spinners and weavers are paid bare minimum prices of produce / conversion cost.

• In Orissa , marketing of tasar cocoon and silk yarns is monitored by SERIFED, an apex society (A Govt. of Orissa undertaking) by involving Tasar Rearers Coop. Societies and Reelers & Weavers Coop. Societies placed at the potential cocoon producing clusters, and other right price of the cocoons / yarn to the farmers / reelers / weavers fixed by the SERIFED.

• In Andhra Pradesh cocoons are marketed through SERIFED and auction in cocoon markets.

• In North Indian States like, U.P., Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal and J&K, the volume of the Vanya silk is not very significant and as such they are marketed through DOSs or NGOs involved with the Vanya silks production.

• Besides, CSB has also established Tasar Raw Material Bank (TRMB) at Chaibasa in Jharkhand with a mandate to procure cocoons from the adjoining states of Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and west Bengal and providing necessary interventions in marketing of cocoons and yarn to minimize exploitation by the Mahajans/ Middlemen.

SUGGESTION• There is an urgent need for increasing the

systematic food plantations with the involvement of forest departments in the state.

• Improvement in the down stream multiplication of basic seed both in terms of quantity and hygiene so as meet the rearers requirements at appropriate time.

• Product development is likely to provide better returns to the actual producers by increasing the demand for quality silk.

• The low cost, highly productive reeling and spinning machinery developed by CSB need to be popularized adequately.

• Handlooms sector in the state should be strengthen because it has rich and diverse cultural heritage, high employment potential, low capital investment, high value addition and potential for export/foreign exchange earnings

• Government would ensure better targeting in various programme for welfare of waever families such as Health programmes, Worshed cum housing, thrift fund, Insurance etc. Regional Handloom Weavers Co-operative Unions and Primary Weavers Co-operative societies will be reactivated and strengthened for increased quality production of handloom goods.

ECONOMICS OF RAISING AND MAINTENANCE OF TASAR FOOD PLANT

General information

Food plant /species used : Arjun (Terminalia arjuna )

Asan (Terminalia tomentosa)

Spacing (cm) : 4’ x 4’ for Arjun6’ x 6’ for Asan

No. of plants per hectare : 6724 for Arjun2989 for Asan

Economics of maintaining one hectare plantation

12641126767041707656005600Maintenance during IV to X year

4.

11219112545619565456005600Maintenance during II and III year

3.

113691938436693704770015680Plantation2.

2845528588517851960.3500Preparations of saplings

1

AsanArjunAsanArjunAsanArjun

TotalMaterial component

Labour component

(Supposed to be met by family )

Operations/ phasesS.N

This is evident from the various costing details that the major expenditure is on the labour component ,which is supposed to be met mainly with family labour.

Economics of leaf production

0.890.59*Leaf cost Rs / Kg (Rs)G

14945 @ 5 K g/plant

23534 @ 3.5 Kg/plant

Leaf production in Kg (After 4 yrs)

F

1335213910Annual expenditure (C+D)

E

1264112676Per year maintenance cost

D

Taking the average life of plant of approx 20 yrs71112345% of planting costC

1421424669Planting cost B29896724No. of plants per haA

RemarksAsanArjunParametersS.N.

*This cost is with the wages of the engaged labourers .This cost will come down substantially in proportion to the family labour used.

ECONOMICS OF TASAR REARING IN T.ARJUNA PLANTATION PER HECTARE PER CROP

2925022500Sale value of cocoons: average @ Rs. 1.00 per cocoon6.

122405420Net profit ( 6-4)7.

29250 @ 65 cocoon / dfl

22500 @ 50 cocoon / dfl

Production of cocoons 5.

1701016080Total Material cost for maintaining Chawki garden, rearing and plantation (2 + 3 )4.

1910450Material cost for Chawki garden and rearing2

Wages: 1. Conventional @ 360 man days (@ 80 man days per 100 dfls 2. Improved @ 340 man days (@75 man days per 100 dfls) . Approx wage is Rs. 70.008.

1510015630Material cost on maintaining the plantation & late age rearing 3

450450Cost of 450 dfls @ Rs. 1/- per dfl. 1

Cost on improved technique (Rs.)

Cost on conventional technique (Rs.)

Particulars/ expenditureS. N.

NORMS• No. of plants In one hectare of economic plantation T. Arjuna

(4’x4’) = 6427. • Rearing capacity of dfls in one hectare of Arjun plantation = 450

dfls. • No. of chawki plants in two chawki gardens to cover by two nets

= 140 @ 70 Plants in each garden.• Calculation is based on 4 year’s old T. arjuna plantation of 4’x4’

spacing. • Improved technique: Chawki rearing on chawki garden at 4’x4’

spacing young age silkworm rearing under nylon net followed by late age rearing on regular economic plantation.

• Production norms: 200 eggs / dfls, 80% hatching,

• production of cocoons: 1. conventional Method : @ 50 cocoons/dfls, 2. Improved technique : @ 65 cocoons/dfls.

Economics of Tasar Silk Yarn / hectare plantation

Rs. 500.00Rs. 300.00Cost of chemicals required for month for cocoon cooking

7

Re. 0.80Re. 1.00Market price / cocoon6

15000 nos.6000 nos.Cocoons required / month (30 days working)

5

8 hrs8 hrs.No. of working hrs/day4

500 nos200 nosCocoon required per day3

6’ x 5’6’ x 5’ Space required2

Tasar Reeling Machine (Cost Rs. 3000 approx) 50% subsidies

Reeling machine (Cost Rs. 11000/- approx) 50% subsidies

Machine utilised1

CharkhaImproved CTR&TI, Pedal-cum-motor operated Reeling-cum-twisting machine

ParticularsSl. No.

Rs. 24000 – Rs.500 = Rs. 23500

Rs. 10500 (Revenue from silk sale) – Rs. 300 (Cost of chemicals) = Rs. 10200

Earning per month14.

Rs. 30, 550 ( in 78 working days by two person)

Rs. 40,800 (in 120 working days by one person)

Earning after processing 24,000 tasar cocoons

15.

Rs. 1600 x 15.00 = Rs. 24000

Rs. 1750 x 6.00 = Rs. 10500Cost of reeled yarn produced / month

13.

Rs. 1600/- per kg.Rs. 1750 /- per kg.Prevailing market rate of reeled tasar silk yarn

12.

78 working days120 working daysEmployment generation11.

15.00 kg / month6.00 kg./ monthProduction silk yarn / month

10.

500 gms / day200 gms / dayProduction of silk yarn / day

9.

2 persons per chakha

1 person / machineManpower utilized8.