In Kashmir, Agricultural Scientist Pioneers Off-season Silkworm Rearing

Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir): On a chilly winter afternoon, Dr. Firdose Ahmad Malik unlocked the door of a newly developed Silkworm Growth Chamber. Inside the refrigerator-sized chamber, rows of blue trays were stacked one on top of another. He gently pulled out one tray, where dozens of silkworms crawled slowly over an olive-green artificial diet.

“This is the outcome of years of hard work,” said Dr. Malik, a scientist and Assistant Professor at the College of Temperate Sericulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Kashmir. “We are in the midst of harsh winters, and still, we are successfully rearing silkworms.”

In Kashmir, silkworm rearing traditionally lasts only four to five months due to prolonged winters and the seasonal availability of mulberry leaves. The silkworm rearing process relies on mulberry leaves as feed and suitable environmental conditions, including temperatures of approximately 24 to 28 degrees Celsius, humidity between 70 and 85 percent in the early stages, a photoperiod of 16 hours of light and eight hours of darkness, and strict cleanliness to prevent disease.

“My innovations provide all these conditions in a controlled manner,” Dr. Malik told Kisan of India. His first breakthrough is a Nano-Fortified Artificial Diet that reduces dependence on mulberry leaves. “Artificial diet has been used before,” he added. “But we have developed a nano-based artificial diet with improved nutrient delivery.”

The diet is a scientifically formulated feed using proteins, enzymes, and essential nutrients in a controlled and efficient manner. The powdered mixture is first blended with the required quantity of water and then cooked. It is poured into circular steel containers to cool and solidify. Once set, it is crushed and spread evenly in trays for feeding. The nano formulation ensures efficient nutrient absorption and supports healthy larval growth, even in the absence of fresh leaves.

His second innovation is a Smart Solar-Powered Sensor-Driven Growth Chamber designed for egg incubation and early-stage rearing. “It is the first of its kind in sericulture here,” said Dr. Malik. The chamber maintains the required temperature, humidity, and light conditions. It runs on solar power and offers six hours of battery backup. It features real-time monitoring that reduces manual intervention and limits human error.

Together, these technologies make off-season silkworm rearing possible, enhance silkworm growth and reduce disease risk. They can boost the sericulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir, which is one of the leading sericulture regions in India and supports a good chunk of the population economically. According to the official data, the sector generates around Rs 2027 lakh annually, supports nearly 34,000 households across 2,880 villages, and creates about 3.6 lakh man days of employment each year.

Silkworm Growth Stages

Silkworm rearing has five growth stages called instars. Under the traditional system of silkworm rearing, in the first stage, newly hatched small larvae are fed finely chopped tender mulberry leaves. In the second stage, the larvae grow slightly bigger and consume more leaves. In the third stage, feeding increases, and body size expands rapidly. In the fourth stage, silkworms eat large quantities of leaves and gain most of their body weight. In the fifth stage, larvae reach full maturity, stop feeding, and begin spinning cocoons. However, with the help of Dr. Malik’s innovations, all growth stages can be effectively carried out in any season.

Later, the cocoons are either selected for seed production or subjected to stifling (heat treatment) to kill the pupa and maintain the integrity of the continuous silk filament. The cocoons are then placed in hot water to soften sericin, the natural binding gum of silk. The delicate double filament is carefully reeled from the cocoon, multiple filaments are combined and twisted into a single thread, and the material is subsequently processed to produce silk yarn and fabric.

Dr. Malik said the idea to make off-season silkworm rearing possible in Kashmir struck his mind in 2024 when he observed how harsh winters and limited mulberry supply were pushing the sector into decline. “We saw that seasonal rearing was holding farmers back,” he told Kisan Of India. He conducted experiments over three consecutive winters using his innovations and achieved successful results. He has published his findings and applied for patents. “These innovations will boost sericulture in Jammu and Kashmir and revive the industry to its past glory,” said Dr. Malik.

On 3 February, Director Sericulture, Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, reviewed the model. He appreciated both initiatives and expressed hope that the technologies would enable year-round sericulture activities and enhance farmers’ income in Kashmir. “This is a good model,” said Mr. Bhat. “We will conduct field trials and assess how these innovations can become more viable for our farmers.”

Dr. Malik is following SKUAST Vice Chancellor Professor Nazir Ahmad Ganai’s mission to provide cost-effective, climate-resilient, innovation-driven technology to farmers of Jammu and Kashmir. “This is not just an experiment,” he said. “It is an attempt to strengthen the silk industry, support farmers across Kashmir, and provide more opportunities for youth.”