1. Indian sericulture is highly labour intensive. Over, 50 % cost of silk cocoon production accounts for labour wages. The Sericulture Engineering Division of CSRTI, Mysore envisages to mechanize Indian sericulture for :
• enhancing productivity of land and workers
• obtaining timeliness in various operations
• improving work environment
• reducing drudgery involved in many cocoon production activities
• providing safety to the workers
• reducing cocoon production cost.


2. Environment plays in important role in successful cocoon crop. Sericulture Engineering Division also works on design and development of young and late age silkworm rearing houses fro different agro-climatic conditions.

We must reduce drudgery involved in many cocoon production activities. We should also reduce cocoon production cost to make Indian silk more competitive in market. The Sericulture Engineering, therefore, has focussed it's R&D towards design, development and adoption of tools, equipments and machines for mechanization in mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing and silkworm egg production to produce silk cocoons at less cost and with minimum effort.

Environment is very important in silkworm rearing. The Sericultural Engineering Division also carries out research on design and development of rearing houses for different agro-climatic conditions at less cost.

1. Mechanization in mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing and egg production.
2. Design and development of tools, equipments and machines for mechanization in various activities of sericulture.
3. Young and late age silkworm rearing houses.

1. Development and popularisation of women friendly technology for avoiding drudgery in sericulture funded by Deptt. of Science & Technology (New Delhi) (2003-2006).

Equipment and Machines Developed

Cocoon Cutting machine (5500-6000 cocoons cutting/hr)	Cutting preparation machine (1200-1400 cuttings/hr)	Hand operated deflosser (25-30 kg/hr)	Hand cum motorized deflosser (50-60 kg/hr)
Motorized deflosser (80-100 kg/hr)	Motorized leaf chopper (60-70 kg/hr)	Chawki Leaf Chopper (225-250 kg/hr)	Battery operated Duster
Mulberry shoot crushing machine	Mulberry shoot harvester	Plastic mountage pressing tool	Electric sprayer for disinfection
Flame gun	Self propelled sprayer	Plastic tray washing machine	Silkworm separator

Mulberry plantation methods for mechanized cultivation

CSRTI, Mysore developed new mulberry plantation method called 3M. It permits movement of power tiller and tractor operated machines to move freely in the mulberry gardens along and across the rows. This plantation method helps in reducing cost and carry out work at a faster rate in intercultural operations, chemical application, etc. It is considered as highly potential plantation method for new gardens specially for large sericulture farms where mechanization in must.

1. Development of mechanized mulberry farms and silkworm rearing.
2. Training programmes on mechanization in sericulture.
3. Design and development of silkworm rearing houses for different agro-climates.

Sericulture Engineering Division has well equipped machine prototype design and development unit. A well equipped workshop with well trained experienced technicians and mechanics support the R&D programmes. There is good facility for testing of machines for different operations in sericulture. The Division posses a well equipped sericulture machinery demonstration and training facility.

Twentytwo (22) including Two books.

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