REARING OF ERI SILK WORM AND ITS ECONOMIC VIABILITY TO RAINFED CASTOR FARMERS.

Ericulture, rearing of eri silk worm plays a significant role in rural livelihood security especially among marginalized and weaker sections. Castor (Ricinus communis L.) being the primary host plant of eri silk worm Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval, its rearing can be taken up, without losing the seed yield. To study the effect of defoliation on seed yield and additional income, eight castor genotypes viz., Haritha, Kranthi, Kiran, DPC-9, PCH-111, PCH-222, GCH-4 and DCH-177 were studied during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 kharif and rabi seasons at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem. Significantly no deviation in seed yield was observed from non-defoliated samples, and 30% defoliated plants. The batches reared on the leaves of PCH-111 gave significantly maximum shell yield of 15.1 kg/ ha followed by GCH-4 (14.8 kg/ ha) and PCH-222 (14.6 kg/ ha). By utilizing the 30% defoliated leaf for rearing, significantly more gross returns and net profit were obtained with PCH-111 (Rs. 55,582 and 37,452), GCH-4 (Rs. 55,144 and 37,036) and PCH-222 (Rs. 54,820 and 36,635). On an average almost all the genotypes gave an additional income of Rs. 4000/ ha in addition to the regular seed yield with rearing of the silk worm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]