Tasar Silk and Honey in the Mountains of Garhwal, India

by Appropriate Technology International

Partners:

Appropriate Technology International (ATI) EDA Rural Systems Kumaun University Community Enterprises

Current Accomplishments

The project made major strides in hiring and training staff, developing and instituting biological and socio-economic monitoring plans, holding village level meetings to organize implementation activities, and establishing the silk and honey enterprises.

To date, thirty-one villagers have received training in silkworm rearing practices. Silkworm rearing was undertaken by twenty producers in March, 1996 at Chawkie Rearing Centers in the Akash Kamini Valley. The first cocoon crop yielded a harvest of approximately 20,000 cocoons. Nine producers were involved in the second crop that yielded 44,000 cocoons. All cocoons are being kept to be used in future rearings, hence no reeling activities have taken place. One hundred locally manufactured bee boxes have been sold to villagers. Sixteen villagers have attended a three month training in bee keeping and honey production.

Successes and Challenges

"OK...So What?"

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