Textile Ministry deploys castor-based eri sericulture across Gujarat

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Ministry of Textiles and the Central Silk Board are increasing the deployment of castor-based eri sericulture across Gujarat, capitalizing on the state’s massive 6.52 lakh hectare castor cultivation base. By rearing Samia ricini silkworms on existing castor foliage, agricultural planners are introducing a dual-income model that yields natural silk without compromising primary oilseed output.

Field evaluations shows, up to 30 per cent of castor leaves can be safely harvested for silkworm feeding, generating up to Rs 1 lakh in supplementary revenue per four bighas of land. Under the 'Mera Resham Mera Abhimaan' initiative, technical infrastructure including Eri Chawki Rearing Centres and Sericulture Resource Centres are being operationalized in primary belts such as Banaskantha, Mehsana, Patan, and Sabarkantha. India produces over 38,000 metric tons of raw silk annually, yet non-mulberry commercial expansion remains critical to meet surging demand for eco-friendly textile fibers and curb import dependencies.

Integrating sericulture into established oilseed belts creates an eco-friendly textile fiber supply chain while significantly enhancing farm-gate realizations, says P Sivakumar, Member Secretary, Central Silk Board. While downstream spinning processing infrastructure presents an initial bottleneck, targeted public-private investments aim to establish local fiber processing units, positioning Western India as a key producer of sustainable specialty yarns.

Executed by the Central Silk Board and Gujarat Government, the Eri Sericulture Promotion Initiative integrates silk production into castor farming. Operating across major agricultural districts, it supplies sustainable fibers for premium apparel and technical textiles. Expanding from 100 pilot farms to 500-plus operations, the project leverages Gujarat's dominant national castor share to establish a high-value, non-mulberry silk cluster.