Socio-economic and Communicational Status of Tasar Silkworm Rearers in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh in India

The present study was undertaken to assess the socio-economic and communicational status of Tasar silkworm cocoon producers and enhance their economic performance through sericulture. In this context, a study has been conducted in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state, India to know the socio-economic and communicational status of Tasar silkworm rearers. The methodology of the study is to seek the answers to the research question, a descriptive research design and proportionate random sampling method were used. Information pertaining to the current investigation was collected from 214 farmers in 4 blocks and ten villages through formal discussion using an interview schedule and appropriate statistical measures like frequency, and percentage were applied to analyze the data. The main finding of the study is that the main occupation of the respondent farmers was sericulture. In respect of land holding, a massive group of farmers holds less than one acre and none of the farmers own large land holding. Most of the farmers produced Tasar cocoons in 2001 -5000 numbers. The majority of the farmers possessed medium use of mass media, out of which most farmers actively used sericulture firms and film/slide shows for sericulture-related information. Most of the farmers contact the field man once a week and rarely contact the Deputy Director of sericulture for sericulture-related information. In respect of taking part in extension activities, farmers took part in group meetings, demonstrations, farmers' training programs, and field days. The study recommended that sericulture provides gainful employment, economic development, low capital intensive, and improvement in the quality of life to the people in tribal areas.