silk News & Analysis

India's Silk Industry: Dr. Umamaheswari Produces 10 Crops Annually

Dr. Jolapuram Umamaheswari transitioned from a scientist to a silk farmer six years ago in Andhra Pradesh, producing 10 crops of raw silk annually. Each crop's growth cycle takes 25 to 30 days, yielding around $1,000 monthly. Modern sericulture is experiencing significant technological advancements, including AI applications that improve disease detection in silkworm larvae with over 99% accuracy. India remains the second-largest silk producer globally, with unique silk varieties including Muga, Tasar, Eri, and Mulberry.