Revitalizing Bodoland's Silk Industry: A Pre-Cocoon Support Initiative

The Bodoland Sericulture Mission in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has rejuvenated the traditional silk industry, increasing the annual income of silkworm farmers by at least 25%. The mission focuses on pre-cocoon activities, including host plant development, equipment provision, and disease-resistant silkworm seeds. This has helped increase the annual income of silkworm farmers from ₹70,000 to ₹100,000, with the target of reaching ₹150,000. The mission involves multiple agencies, including the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, and the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project.

The Bodoland Sericulture Mission in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has significantly transformed the traditional silk industry, leading to a substantial increase in the annual income of silkworm farmers. This mission, a collaborative effort between the Bodoland Territorial Council, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, and the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project, has been instrumental in this transformation.

Pre-cocoon activities, including host plant development, equipment provision, and the use of disease-resistant silkworm seeds, have been the cornerstone of the mission's success. These initiatives have helped increase the annual income of silkworm farmers from ₹70,000 to ₹100,000, with a target of reaching ₹150,000. The mission's focus on these pre-cocoon activities has not only improved the quality of silk but also ensured the sustainability of the industry.

The mission has directly supported over 6,000 households, providing training, infrastructure, and technology support worth an average of Rs 50,000 per family. This support has been crucial in stabilizing cocoon production and improving returns for women-led producer groups. The mission spans the entire silk value chain, from plantation and cocoon rearing to spinning and weaving, ensuring a holistic approach to silk production.

Two major eri silk spun mills have been established in the region, further bolstering the mission's impact. The first mill, set up at the Integrated Textile Park in Barama, Baksa, was inaugurated in January 2025, with a daily production capacity of 461 kilograms of eri yarn. The second mill, launched in Kokrajhar's Bodoland Silk Park in August 2025, is expected to produce 37 metric tons of eri yarn annually. These mills not only create jobs but also ensure stable prices for rearers and new avenues for value-added yarn, lifting margins for weavers and enabling the entry of Bodoland's silk into premium and export-facing markets.

The mission's efforts have been recognized with the award of the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Bodo Eri Silk in 2024, securing its identity in both domestic and international markets. This tag has further enhanced the region's prominence in the silk industry, with BTR becoming the second-largest producer of eri silk in the Northeast after Assam.

Challenges remain, however, such as sustaining throughput, steady procurement of cocoons at fair prices, timely working capital for producer groups, and building stronger linkages between women’s clusters, mills, and brand buyers. Despite these challenges, the mission's success is evident in the improved livelihoods of thousands of families across Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa, Chirang, and Tamulpur. As the mills reach their planned capacity and the mission continues to expand, Bodoland's silk revolution is not only weaving prosperity but also securing the region's place on the national and global textile map.

References:
Bodoland's Silk Revolution: Weaving prosperity, heritage ...^[1] https://www.thestatesman.com/business/bodolands-silk-revolution-weaving-prosperity-heritage-and-global-ambition-1503482974.html