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Mulberry Silkworm Farming in Haryana: A Practical Guide

Hands-on guidance for setting up mulberry planting and silkworm rearing in Haryana, including soil selection, sapling care, rearing steps, hygiene, harvest and practical tips for better yields.

Ranjeet Natarajan
Ranjeet Natarajan August 9, 2026 6 min read 1,099 words
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Mulberry Silkworm Farming in Haryana: A Practical Guide

Introduction

Sericulture (mulberry-silkworm farming) can be a profitable farm enterprise in Haryana when done with attention to land preparation, regular leaf production and hygienic rearing practices. This guide gives step-by-step, field-tested procedures for smallholders and emerging farmers: how to raise mulberry, rear Bombyx mori, manage chawki and late-instar silkworms, harvest cocoons and common troubleshooting tips.

Site and Soil for Mulberry

Mulberry will perform well on a variety of soils but prefers well-drained loams. In Haryana’s alluvial belts, ensure the site does not waterlog during monsoon. Key soil considerations:

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  • Soil texture: sandy loam to clay loam are suitable; avoid heavy stagnating clays.
  • pH: neutral to slightly alkaline soils are acceptable. If soil is highly acidic, lime application is needed.
  • Drainage: plant on raised beds or ridges where drainage is poor to prevent root rot.
  • Organic matter: incorporate compost or well-rotted farmyard manure to improve tilth and moisture retention.

Variety and Planting

Choose mulberry varieties adapted to local climate and preferred by local silk rearing units. Common planting systems are high-density hedge-row plantations for frequent leaf harvests. Practical planting tips:

  • Use healthy, disease-free saplings or cuttings from certified sources.
  • Spacing: hedge-row systems often use close spacing to allow multiple prunings per year; check local extension recommendations for exact spacing based on variety.
  • Plant in pits or trenches with added compost and a little balanced fertilizer at planting.
  • Watering: maintain regular moisture especially in the first year; mulching around plants helps conserve moisture in dry months.
  • Pruning: train the plants from the first year for a framework that allows repeated leaf harvests without weakening the bush.

Nutrition and Water Management

Mulberry is a fast-growing crop with high nutrient demand. Follow these principles:

  • Apply organic manures annually and supplement with N-P-K based on soil tests. Nitrogen is particularly important for leaf growth.
  • Split nitrogen applications to support regrowth after prunings/harvests.
  • Irrigation scheduling: keep soil moist during active growth and leaf production; avoid over-irrigation that can reduce leaf quality.
  • Pest and disease scouting: regular inspection reduces losses—manage pests promptly with approved, safe measures suitable for sericulture (avoid residues on leaves destined for silkworms).

Leaf Harvesting and Handling

Leaf quality directly affects silkworm performance. Key points for harvest and storage:

  • Harvest young, tender leaves during morning hours for best quality.
  • Remove diseased or damaged leaves; only healthy foliage should be fed to silkworms.
  • If storing leaves for short periods, keep them in cool, shaded conditions and avoid piling that causes heating or spoilage.
  • Feed frequency: silkworms need frequent feeds; plan leaf harvesting to match rearing cycles to avoid shortages.

Setting Up a Rear House

A properly designed rearing house is essential for sanitation and temperature control. Consider:

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  • Location: easy access to mulberry fields, protected from strong winds and direct rain.
  • Flooring: smooth, washable floor that can be disinfected. Provide raised rearing tables to keep larvae off the ground.
  • Ventilation: controlled ventilation without drafts; maintain relatively stable temperature and humidity for each instar.
  • Water supply and waste disposal: ensure clean water for cleaning trays and safe disposal of rearing waste away from fields.

Silkworm Rearing: Step-by-Step

Silkworm rearing is divided into stages. Maintain strict hygiene, temperature and feeding schedules throughout.

1. Egg and Incubation

  • Obtain disease-free eggs (layings) from reputable seed producers.
  • Incubate eggs at the recommended temperature and humidity until hatching; avoid temperature shocks.

2. Chawki Rearing (1st–3rd instars)

  • Chawki larvae (young larvae) are delicate—keep temperature and relative humidity steady and provide tender, finely chopped leaves.
  • Feed small quantities frequently to keep leaves fresh and reduce contamination.
  • Use separate trays and avoid mixing different age groups to prevent disease spread.

3. Late-Instar Rearing (4th–5th instars)

  • As larvae grow, increase leaf quantity and provide whole leaves. Keep rearing trays clean by removing droppings and spoiled leaves multiple times daily.
  • Avoid overcrowding; follow tray density guidelines from extension services or seed suppliers.

4. Mounting and Cocooning

  • When larvae stop feeding and begin wandering, provide clean mounting frames or baskets with suitable materials for spinning cocoons.
  • Ensure mounting area is calm and free of disturbances; maintain humidity levels that promote proper spinning.

5. Harvesting Cocoons

  • Collect cocoons carefully once spinning is complete and the pupa is mature. Handle gently to avoid damaging the fibre.
  • Sort cocoons by quality and send to the reeling unit or market as per local arrangements.

Hygiene and Disease Management

Diseases pose the biggest risk to regular silkworm production. Practical hygiene measures are most effective:

  • Disinfect trays, tools and rearing rooms before each crop cycle using approved disinfectants.
  • Isolate suspect batches immediately and avoid sharing equipment between groups without cleaning.
  • Ensure leaves are free from chemical residues—pesticide exposure can cause mass mortality.
  • Maintain records of mortality, feeding schedules and environmental conditions to spot patterns early.

Labour, Economics and Marketing

Sericulture is labour-intensive during feeding and harvesting. Plan labour for peak periods (chawki feeding, final instar cleaning and cocoon collection). To improve economics:

  • Integrate mulberry with other farm enterprises—mulberry prunings and leaves can be used as livestock fodder or composted for farm use.
  • Join farmer groups or cooperatives for better access to disease-free layings, seeds and collective marketing of cocoons.
  • Establish forward linkages with local reeling units or silk producers to ensure timely sale of cocoons; maintain quality standards to get better prices.

Practical Tips from the Field

  • Start small: run a few racks initially to learn the micro-climate control and feeding rhythm before scaling up.
  • Keep a simple standard operating procedure (SOP) for cleaning, feeding times and tray densities and train all workers on it.
  • Use shade nets or windbreaks if the rear house is exposed to harsh sun or winds—extreme fluctuations stress larvae.
  • Record-keeping matters: track leaf quantities harvested, number of silkworms reared and cocoon output to calculate farm-level performance and identify bottlenecks.
  • Stay connected with local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or sericulture extension officers for updated disease alerts, certified layings and best-practice demonstrations.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

  • High larval mortality: check for chemical contamination on leaves, sudden temperature shifts or poor hygiene—quarantine batches and disinfect facilities.
  • Poor cocoon formation: ensure larvae had adequate, high-quality leaf during the late instars and that mounting conditions (calm, correct moisture) were met.
  • Pest problems on mulberry: monitor for typical pests and use non-residual control measures; avoid applying sprays when leaves are intended for immediate feeding.

Conclusion

Mulberry-silkworm farming in Haryana is viable with careful selection of planting site, consistent leaf production and disciplined, hygienic rearing. Begin at a manageable scale, keep good records and use local extension support. Over time, attention to leaf quality, timely feeding and disease control will be the main drivers of better cocoon yields and farm income.

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Ranjeet Natarajan
Ranjeet Natarajan

Contributing writer at Agriculture Novel — telling the stories that sustain us.

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