Pay attention to summer conditions for silkworms: Expert

The Silk Department is distributing pesticides to sericulturists free of cost, said M V Chandru, deputy director of silk of the Zilla Panchayat.

The pesticides are being distributed under the Deputy Commissioner’s natural disaster relief fund, he said, at a press conference in the town recently.

Providing technical information and speaking on methods of rearing silkworms in summer, Chandru said a good yield requires the sericulturists to pay attention to the quality and variety of mulberry. It is also important to provide for a proper environment as well as pest-free conditions. “It is difficult to get a good yield in summer because of the intense heat, yet, it is necessary to follow certain methods.

Maintaining mulberry
The dry conditions of summer require proper irrigation for a mulberry farm. care should also be taken to ensure the soil does not lose the moisture.

Chandru said all the yield for a day should not be collected at once. “The leaves should be separated during cooler hours of the day. They should then be filled loosely in a wet bag and moved, followed by regular sprinkling of water on the bag to maintain freshness. A ventilator should be provided to the room in which the bag is placed.

Silkworm rearing
A separate room should be provided for rearing of silkworms. Provisions should also be made for cross-ventilation in the room.

The roof should be covered in coconut fronds or dry grass to decrease the heat. The temperature can also be reduced by growing trees and providing shady surroundings.

Pests and diseases
Disease to mulberry and silkworms is common in summer. Therefore, it is important to ensure systematic application of pesticide, rearing the eggs of worms and supplying good quality mulberry leaves.

The method adopted by the sericulturists should be scientific and the temperature also should be right.

“It is important to take effective pest control measures soon after the silk worms are reared, but before the next crop. The pesticides should be sprinkled all around the rearing room,” he said.