Context
During the State Budget session, Karnataka Chief Minister announced a hi-tech cocoon market will be constructed in Ramanagaram.
Cocoon
- When a silkworm has eaten enough, it constructs a cocoon made out of silk fibers, and inside that cocoon it turns into a pupa.
- This cocoon serves as raw material for silk production
About Silk
- Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles
- The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons
- The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the “mulberry silkworm” reared in captivity (sericulture)
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Sericulture in India
- India is the second largest producer of silk in the world.
- India is only country producing all the five known commercial silks, namely, mulberry, tropical tasar, oak tasar, eri and muga, of which muga with its golden yellow glitter is unique and prerogative of India.
- Mulberry sericulture is mainly practised in five states namely, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu are major silk producing states in the country.
- North East has the unique distinction of being the only region producing four varieties of silk viz., Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Muga and Eri. Overall NE region contributes 18% of India's total silk production.
