Sericulture by Rajesh Kumar Shah is a skill-based textbook written strictly according to the Skill Enhancement Course (SEC) syllabus for B.Sc. Zoology (5th Semester) under Dibrugarh University. Published by Mahaveer Publications, this book is designed to provide both theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of sericulture—a vital agro-based industry in India, especially in Assam and other parts of North-East India.

This book serves as a complete guide for undergraduate students to understand the biology of silkworms, the techniques of silk production, and the economic and entrepreneurial prospects of the sericulture industry.

? Detailed Course Content / Chapters

Chapter 1: Introduction to Sericulture

1.1 Definition of Sericulture
1.2 Importance of Sericulture
1.3 Strength of Silk Industry
1.4 Silk Producing Moth
1.5 History of Sericulture
1.6 Sericulture in World and India
1.7 Sericulture in Assam
1.8 International Scenario of Silk Industry
1.9 Indian Scenario of Silk Industry

Chapter 2: Host Plants of Silkworm

2.1 Host Plants of Eri Silkworm
 2.1.1 Cultivation of Castor Plant
 2.1.2 Method of Propagation
 2.1.3 Diseases of Castor Plant
 2.1.4 Pests of Castor Plant
 2.1.5 Cultivation of Kesseru Plant
 2.1.6 Propagation of Kesseru
 2.1.7 Preparation of Compost
 2.1.8 Preparation of Vermicompost
 2.1.9 Diseases and Pests of Kesseru
2.2 Host Plant of Muga Silkworm
 2.2.1 Cultivation of Som Plant
 2.2.2 Methods of Propagation
 2.2.3 Diseases of Muga Host Plant – Som
 2.2.4 Pests of Som Plant
2.3 Host Plant of Mulberry Silkworm
 2.3.1 Cultivation of Mulberry
 2.3.2 Propagation of Mulberry
 2.3.3 Raising Mulberry Garden for Chawki Rearing
 2.3.4 Diseases of Mulberry Plant
 2.3.5 Insect Pests of Mulberry

Chapter 3: Life Cycle of Silkworm

3.1 Silkworm Species
3.2 Life Cycle
3.3 Silk Synthesis and Silk Chemistry

Chapter 4: Diseases and Pests of Silk Worms

4.1 Diseases of Silk Worms
 4.1.1 Protozoan Disease
 4.1.2 Bacterial Disease
 4.1.3 Fungal Disease
 4.1.4 Viral Disease
4.2 Pests of Silkworm
 4.2.1 Flies
 4.2.2 Dermestid Beetles
 4.2.3 Mite
 4.2.4 Others

Chapter 5: Silkworm Rearing

5.1 Pre-requisites for Rearing
5.2 Preparation and Maintenance of Rearing House
5.3 Rearing of Mulberry Silkworm
 5.3.1 Early Age Silkworm
 5.3.2 Late Age Silkworm
5.4 Rearing of Non-Mulberry Silkworm
 5.4.1 Rearing of Tasar Silkworm
 5.4.2 Rearing of Muga Silkworm
 5.4.3 Rearing of Eri Silkworm

Chapter 6: Characteristics of Cocoon

6.1 Physical Characters
6.2 Commercial Characters
6.3 Factors Affecting Cocoon Quality
6.4 Types of Cocoons
6.5 Cocoon Sorting, Testing, and Classification
6.6 Cocoon Marketing
6.7 Price Fixation

Chapter 7: Cocoon Processing

7.1 Cocoon Stifling
 7.1.1 Methods of Stifling
7.2 Storage of Cocoons
7.3 Sorting of Cocoons
7.4 Deflossing
7.5 Riddling
7.6 Cocoon Cooking and Brushing

Chapter 8: Raw Silk Reeling

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Reeling Operation
8.3 Reeling Apparatus
 8.3.1 Reels
 8.3.2 Reeling Machines
8.4 Re-reeling

Chapter 9: Silk Examination and Testing

9.1 Silk Examination
9.2 Raw Silk Testing
9.3 By-products

Chapter 10: Employment & Entrepreneurial Opportunity in Sericulture

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Sericulture and Rural Economy
10.3 Sericulture and Women
10.4 Central Silk Board
10.5 Role of State Departments of Sericulture
10.6 National Sericulture Project (NSP)
10.7 Important Sericultural Organizations in India