This presentation discusses the economic importance of silk. It begins by providing an overview of silk production in India, noting that India is the second largest producer. It then discusses the various qualities and uses of silk fibers, including in textiles, parachutes, medical dressings and more. The presentation provides statistics on varieties of silk produced in India. It also discusses the human skills involved in silk production. In conclusion, it notes that sericulture can generate high incomes with low investment, especially for small farmers, and discusses the research and extension systems that support the silk industry.

1. PRESENTATION
ON
ECONOMIC
IMPORTANCE
OF SILK
PRESENTED BY: ROLL NO:
1.PRANJAL GOSWAMI US-201-270-0056 B.Sc. 4th Semester(CBCS)
2.PRATHAM DASGUPTA US-201-270-0057 ZOO-SE-4014
3.PRITAM SAHA US-201-270-0060
4.SUBHANKAR MALAKAR US-201-270-0088
5.ANKIT PAUL US-201-270-0004

2. ABOUT SILK
 Silk dignifies textiles industry globally. India being the second largest
producer of silk, it adds more variety to the global textiles industry. Indian
silk comes under two broad categories, i.e. mulberry and non-mulberry silk.
Silk is the main product of any sericulture activity.
 Silk is called the “queen of textile” owing to its sheen and luster, unparalleled
grandeur, elegance, soft touch, light weight, high absorbance and high
durability.
 Indian silk has enthralled fashion watchers, designers and consumers of all
categories across the world by its vast repertoire of motifs, techniques and
brilliant hues.
 Silkworms are a main component of the sericulture industry. The silk is
obtained from the cocoon of the silkworms.

3. USES OF SILK
 Uses of silk are as follows:
1. Silk fibers are utilized in preparing silk clothes. Silk fibers are now
combined with other natural or synthetic fibres to manufacture clothes like
Teri-silk, Cot-silk, etc. Silk is dyed and printed to prepare ornamental
fabrics. They are generally made from Eri-silk or Spun-silk.
2. silk is used in the manufacture of fishing fibres, parachutes, cartridge
bags, insulation coils for telephone, wireless receivers, tyres of racing cars,
filter fibers, in medical dressings and as suture materials
3. Silk is used in industries and for military purposes.

4. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SILK
 OVERVIEW:
The history of silk is as long as that of cultivation itself.
Silk is named in legend, fable and folklore. Silk belongs to
the group of animal fibers as it is produced by the silkworm,
of which two general groups, these being the domesticated
type of which the mulberry or pat (Bombyx mori) is the most
important the wild type, of which there are numerous widely
distributed varieties. Besides mulberry, India produces Eri
(Philosamia ricini), Muga (Antheraea assama) and tasar
(Antheraea mylitta) of wild varieties.

5. QUALITIES OF SILK
 The important qualities are –
1. It is the only natural filament that man does not have
to spin before it can be used for textiles fabrics, for it is only
necessary to twist the long continuous strands that the
caterpillar has prepared for man’s comfort and pleasure.
2. Silk fibre is fine and long- the width is less than 10
micron and the length is more than hundred times of the width
(1 micron = 1/1000 mm).
3. The fibre has suitable strength and characteristic
elasticity for which it is an excellent textile fibre. Its breaking
strength is about 4 g/denier and elongation about 20%.

6. HUMAN SKILLS
During cooking and reeling, unlike the mechanical
condition of the reeling machines, the degree of skill of the
reeler is also important. Optimum conditions
of cooking require human skills for producing good quality
raw silk yarn. Fixed number of cocoons is to be casted during
reeling which is very important to fix the size of yarn. A
mixture of fresh and half – reeled or a particularly reeled
cocoon is necessary to maintain high standard of evenness.
Human skill is important for rereeling of yarn, storage of yarn,
handling of yarn, weaving of fabric, packing of silk items and
finally marketing of goods.

7. ECONOMICS OF SILK INDUSTRY
Sericulture has been cultivated in the East from last four
thousand years. It has become known to the world only from
the thousand years. Today silk constitutes about two per cent
of world’s textile production. It still reigns supreme as queen
of textiles and the demand is increasing year after year. Silk
is a ‘low volume-high cost’ textile fibre. Its market is ever
increasing and is the most sought after material in the advanced
Countries.
 Variety wise raw silk production in India (2007-2008)
(Gar, 2013) is presented in Table.
Table : Variety wise production of silk in 2007-2008.
 Name of silk Percentage (%)
Multivoltine mulberry silk 83
Bivoltine mulberry silk 6
Muga 1
Eri 8
Tasar 2
Total 100

8. ISEPC-INDIA SILK EXPORT PROMOTION
COUNCIL
India Silk Export Promotion Council helps more than
1200 silk exporters in services, like right contact in silk
business for product improvement, arranging buyer-seller
meets through international textile fairs, available product
range in India, information regarding latest trend in fashion,
design and colour etc.

9. PHARMACEUTICAL USES OF SILK
Biomedical textiles are composed of fibrous units produced from natural or synthetic
materials. These textiles are used in either external or internal environment of living
organisms. Biomedical textiles are further used, medically, to improve the medical
condition of a patient. Some biomedical textiles include implantable, non-implantable
and extracorporeal devices as well as hygiene and health care products. Non-
implantable materials/devices include wound dressings materials like bandages and
gauzes. While, implantable materials/devices include artificial arteries, heart valves,
sutures, and vascular grafts among others. Extracorporeal devices mainly include
artificial body organs. Hygiene and health care products include sanitary towels,
tissue paper, wipes, hospital gowns and uniforms, hospital bed covers, surgical covers,
masks and caps. Other biomedical textiles include polymer sensors and wearable
medical implants.

10. COSMETICS OF SILK
1.Silk is highly compatible with human skin, it contains the same Amino Acids
that are naturally found on the skin’s surface; both protein structures are alike.
Silk demonstrates ability to hold moisture, form into a gel, enhance shine and
easily penetrate the skin which makes it ideal for a wide range of cosmetics.
2.Among the various types of silk additives that can be incorporated into
formulations for cosmetics and personal care products, the following three are
most common: Silk Amino Acids, Silk Peptide and Silk Powder.
3.The first protein, Sericin, is the substance that makes it possible for silk
strands to bind in order to form a cocoon. When applied to wounds, it is reputed
to promote the coagulation that is necessary for wound healing and to facilitate
the healing process. Furthermore, it diminishes the chance of contracting
infections while it soothes and decreases wound inflammation.

11. Overview of the origin and structures of Silk fibroin

12. CONCLUSION
After learning about the types of silkworms, distribution, the textile products,
cosmetics, medicines, etc. It is relevant for us to know the cost and returns in
sericulture. Sericulture is suitable to small, medium and large-scale farmers. As such,
the economics of sericulture will also vary. Sericulture is highly suitable to small and
marginal farmers, because of its capacity to generate a high income with
comparatively less investment. The support system in sericulture consists of the
research system which includes all those involve in new technology output. The
extension system, which takes the technology from the research system and
disseminates to the needy clients so that farmers understand and accept the new
technology. This feedback will be utilized by the research system to formulate new
research programmes or for modifying the technology that is already in use by the
farmers.

13. THANK YOU