With an annual production of 3,000 kilograms of silk cocoons in the district and mulberry cultivation carried out in 100 acres of land, the sericulturists are making efforts to mark the name of Udupi in the sericulture map of the State.
In recent times, sericulture has been providing fresh lease of life to as many as 101 agriculturist families in the district, which are engaged in sericulture.
According to sericulture department officer Upendra Nayak, sericulture is being carried out by farmers under the scientific guidance and technical support of the department. As a result, the sericulture in the district has shown a good progress. There are several youth sericulturists who have been found successful in Ajekar, Hebri, Mudradi, Kanthavara and Mala of Karkala, Nayak said.
Ganesh Shettigar (29), being a successful sericulturist, and who has been awarded best integrated farmer, provides guidance to farmers in sericulture. In Kundapur also, around 50 sericulturists in Kodladi, Cherkadi, Maradi, Ajri and Petri limits have been profitablely marketing Udupi silk cocoons in Ramnagar and Bangalore market.
As the sericulture is based on technical and scientific methods, it is essential to have skilled training. In this regard, Rudseti has been providing training to interested farmers, along with study tour. For small scale sericulturists, the department of sericulture has made provisions towards the marketing of cocoons in Training cum Production Centre (TPCC) in Karkala.
Owing to the sincere efforts of Udupi district sericulture officer Upendra Nayak and Karkala taluk field officer H S Kori, the farmers of Karkala taluk have been seeing good days through sericulture.
Kori, belonging to Bagalkot, said that he informed the farmers about sericulture by paying door-to-door visits and by encouraging them to carry out sericulture, explaining about the government facilities available to sericulturists.
“I have no knowledge of Tulu and many people could not make out my Kannada accent. But, I did not give up and tried to convince the point through expressions and hand gestures,” said H S Kori.
“Many farmers including Ganesh, Sathish, Veerappa Shettigar, Shanta Shettigar, Sulochana have been very cooperative to me and now, they have done wonders,” he added.
Also, many agriculturist families in Hebri/Bachappu, have relied upon sericulture today. They grow four crops annually. More care is needed as the quality of silk cocoons depends on the quality of mulberry. Also, there is a requirement to maintain the correct temperature in silkworm sheds.
The underlining fact is that the sericulture in the district is being carried out by both small scale and large scale farmers, without any disparity.
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