Breeding Silkworms on Mulberry Trees, which grows in Pakistan, why then we have not paid due attention to

this product. Silkworms are bred on Mulberry trees available throughout Pakistan. It is a value added product. It
also works on Hand looms and marketed as Raw Silk Cloth and for production of Silk Yarn. It needs on
electricity, reasonable ordinary water heating could be done on dead branches of trees. It will provide jobs to
rural population, now suffering from the devastating floods.
SILKWORM FARMING
The name for the silk process of raising silkworms and producing raw silk came from the Greek word "serikos",
which means silk.
The silk process begins with farmers breeding the native Chinese moth, Bombyx mori. Each moth may lay as
many as 400 to 500 eggs. The eggs are kept in heated incubators or warmed open trays. The eggs will develop
into caterpillars that will feast aggressively on Mulberry leaves provided by the farmers. The caterpillars grow
very rapidly and within about five weeks they will reach about three inches long. When fully developed the
caterpillars will begin to loose interest in eating and will start the process of building cocoons. The farmers will
lay out straw on trays so that the caterpillars may build their cocoons.
The caterpillars will use their two tubular spinning glands, which will each secrete a single silk fiber. The
caterpillar's two silk fibers will be joined to form one single thread by the caterpillar's muscular reaction. A single
thread may reach as long as 280 to 320 feet. The process of building a cocoon takes about ten days. After the
cocoons have been made, the farmer will separate take the majority of them to the silk factory. The farmer will
keep some of the cocoons for future breeding.
THE PROCESS ONCE AT THE FACTORY
At the factory, the silkworms are divided between quality silkworms and reject silkworms. After the silkworms
have been separated, the quality silkworms will be steamed to kill the chrysalis.
The cocoons will then be immersed in hot water to loosen the threads from the cocoon. The threads are pulled
from the water by machine and will be joined together to form silk thread. It will take threads from six or seven
cocoons to produce one thread for weaving. The thread will then be taken to a machine that will "twist" or
"throw" the fiber. The bobbins on the various machines will move in different directions and at varying speeds to
make different types and qualities of silk.
AFTER THE SILK FACTORY
The silk thread will then be sent to dyeing factories to color the thread. After dyeing, the silk thread will be sent
to weaving factories or to silk embroidery shops. The silk will be weaved to make fabric or carpets.
BED COVERS SILK AND SILK DUVET COVERS
We use the finest Chinese silk to make our bed covers and bedspreads.

Just for information, Thailand and other eastern countries

hold the major market for Pure Silk, we should make our
presence in market as well.
I am confident that this will induce entrepreneurs to look into it with serious thought. Courtesy Hortis

Objectives

To focus on complete and holistic development of sericulture industry in the country

involving States and beneficiaries for sustainability, and improvement of output in
terms of quality, quantity and productivity. To provide a unique and effective
platform for transfer of technologies evolved by the Research Institutes in the field.
CDP aims at filling demand-supply gap through technology development and
absorption, quality up-gradation, investment generation, productivity improvement
and employment generation, especially to women, SC/ ST and below poverty line
farmers. To bring horizontal and vertical growth in bivoltine silk cocoon and raw
silk production in the clusters, improve managerial and technical skills for ensuring
management of group activities through training and input support and provide
need based infrastructure and technological support to silk industry.