This study projects sericulture as having the potential for increasing the income. In order to assess the performance of the sericulture industry, a quick survey was conducted in the two districts of Bahraich and Shravasti in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This paper measures the performance of sericulture industry in order to develop proper strategies for its expansion on a large scale. Farmers do not take proper care of the plantation and they simultaneously face scarcity of functional equipment, rearing-house facilities and weak extension support. The authors mainly analyze the economic and technical constraints facing the rural producers involved in the sericulture activities, which ought to be relaxed to achieve full potential contribution in the livelihood of rural households. The results of this study further proved that additional income can be obtained from sericulture by providing technical training and proper follow-up.

In developing countries like India, agriculture and agro-based industries play a vital role in the development of rural economy. The limited cash returns from a low per capita availability of cultivable land on the one hand, and serious seasonality effect in income due to the biological nature of agricultural production on the other, have made the rural producers to look for alternative opportunities for livelihood. Given both the off-farm and on-farm employment potential of the sericulture industry, it can nullify the seasonality impact in the rural economy. Accordingly, agriculture and sericulture are adopted simultaneously by the agriculturists in regions where the ecological conditions are favorable. Sericulture industry is more suitable to women as it largely requires inhouse (off-farm) operations. Requirement of very less capital investment makes this industry more lucrative to the rural entrepreneurs in India. Thus, the sericulture industry plays a crucial role in the alleviation of rural unemployment and poverty. It is also a source of foreign exchange for the country.

The mulberry and tropical tasar sericulture are in practice in Uttar Pradesh (UP) since a long time. There are three important components of the total value chain of Mulberry sericulture: (a) plantation of mulberry leaves, (b) rearing silkworm for cocoon production, and (c) yarn production by reeling of cocoons. Silk products from UP are famous across the globe. Although, there exists a strong demand for silk products from UP, the non-availability of raw material is the biggest constraint before the weaving centers in the state. The large gap in the demand and supply of raw material for the weaving industry is usually met by buying raw silk from South India or by importing from other countries. Under this scenario, there is urgent need to develop sericulture as an economically viable industry in the state.

The present study assessed the performance of sericulture industry in UP in order to develop proper strategies for its expansion on a large scale. More specifically, the study tried to understand the economic and technical constraints faced by rural producers involved in sericulture activities, which ought to be relaxed for achieving its full potential contribution in livelihood of rural households.

Potential and Prospects of Sericulture Activities in UP,sericulture, industry, income, production, performance, involved, contribution, plantation, offfarm, economy, expansion, simultaneously, constraint, Accordingly, additional, economically, agriculturists, followup, agrobased, industries, investment, analyze, lucrative, nonavailability, availability, projects, Requirement, serious