Sericulture Farmers in Andhra Pradesh Struggle Amid Challenges

Quick Summary

• In Chebrolu, Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh, sericulture is rapidly declining due to a combination of factors including market closure, transportation challenges, high costs, and the emergence of Non-Spinning Syndrome (NSS) affecting silkworms.
• Previously a major hub for mulberry farming starting in the 1980s with two local silk reeling units boosting profitability; farmers could harvest up to four times annually and yield around 600 kg of cocoons per acre.
• Since closure of local cocoon markets in 2023, farmers must transport produce to distant markets-Hindupur (800 km away) or Palamner (750 km)-at important cost. Farmers report price bargaining by buyers at these markets below government-fixed rates.
• NSS emerged last monsoon possibly due to pesticide exposure from neighboring cotton fields. Mulberry cultivation area fell from 1,140 acres in 2024 to just 814 acres in mid-2025.Silkworm sheds dropped drastically from 400 in 2022 to approximately 150.
• Central Silk Board shifted its Regional Research and Extension Center (REEC) specifically for NSS examination and technology adoption strategies. Farmers are urged towards modern scientific methods but remain financially burdened by earlier losses.
• Incentives of ₹3 crore promised by the government remain unpaid; farmers are scaling down mulberry cultivation or shifting entirely toward other crops like cotton and oil palm. Some hope for infrastructure revival under proposed projects like a “Silk City,” promised during elections.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The decline of sericulture in Chebrolu is emblematic of larger challenges faced by customary agriculture sectors when market forces combine with environmental vulnerabilities. The emergence of Non-spinning syndrome underscores the need for integrated pest management systems that prevent cross-crop contamination-an issue that could affect other farming zones reliant on coexistence between crop types.

Failure to pay government-announced incentives reflects systemic bureaucratic inefficiencies that further compound farmer struggles while undermining trust between stakeholders in agricultural growth strategies. While relocating research centers and proposing advanced technologies show some promise, their effectiveness will depend greatly on timely implementation.Chebrolu’s case also highlights an issue across rural India: dependence on election-driven promises such as establishing a “Silk City” project risks long-term stagnation when delayed or unrealized amid competing political priorities post-election cycles.

Investments fostering grassroots innovation like household-level reeling units coupled with infrastructure support through localized markets can help retain farming populations within flourishing ecosystems rather than forcing migration toward crops offering immediate but arguably less lasting returns such as cotton or oil palm.

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