Which are the byproducts of sericulture?

The main product in silk industry is the production of thread obtained from the cocoons. In addition the silk industry can produce a number of byproducts.

Some of these are:

Silk worm oil:

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This is oil which can be extracted from the dead pupae. It is used in the manufacture of soaps. After the extraction of the oil, the waste (cake) is used as poultry feed.

Silk worm faeces:

The excreta of silk worms find a number of uses. It can be used in the production of vitamins (K and E), in the manufacture of acid resistant plastic sheets etc. The faeces is also a good organic manure and can be added to the cattle dung to produce gobar gas. Manufacture of garlands – The remains of the cocoon after the removal of silk threads can be fashioned into garlands. These silk garlands are manufactured in Channapatna of Bangalore district.

Uses of Mulberry plant:

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The mulberry plant which is the main stay of silk worm moth has a number of uses. Some of these are –

(i) The fruits are edible; can also be used in the manufacture of alcoholic drinks

(ii) The stem in the trees is white in colour, soft and pliable. It is in great demand in the manufacture of sports goods specially cricket bats. Many agricultural implements can also be fashioned out of the stem. The wood pulp of the stem is a good raw material for the manufacture of quality paper.

(iii) Mulberry leaves constitute a good cattle feed. It is known that this feed increases the milk yield.

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(iv) Various parts of the plant body have a high medicianl value and are used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.

(a) The fruit is aromatic, cooling, laxative, removes thirst and good in the treatment of fevers.

(b) Bark is anthelmentic and purgative.

(c) Leaves in the form of decoction are used to gorgle in the treat­ment of inflammation of the vocal cards.

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(d) Roots are anthelmentic and astringent (acts as a binding agent) and useful in the treatment of diahhroea.

There are four species of mulberry – Morus acedosa, M.alba, M. indica and M. nigra. All these species are of medicinal value.