Sericulture is a cottage industry par excellence with its agricultural base, industrial superstructure and labour intensive nature. It is remarkable for its low investment, quick and high returns, which fits well into the socio-economic fabric of India. Sericulture is highly recommended by planners and administrators as one of the most effective tools for rural reconstruction.
Sericulture as a labour intensive industry provides whole or part-time employment to more than 30 per cent, majority being from the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. Till recently, sericulture was considered as a subsidiary occupation. Introduction of new technology of sericulture has led to making the industry a highly remunerative crop, showing an increase in mulberry cultivation and raw silk production every year.
Out of the 5,76,000 villages in India, sericulture is practised in about 50,000 villages providing employment to about six million people, most of them belonging to the weaker sections of the society.