Who is a silkworm breeder or sericulturist and what do they do? The work of a silk-worm breeder involves a wide range of activities connected with breeding silk-worms and obtaining the cocoons, maintaining the silk-worm breeding rooms and mulberry trees, as well as offering of cocoons for sale.
What are the activities of the silkworm breeder or sericulturist job? Building, repairing and disinfecting the silkworm breeding rooms – providing mulberry leaves to feed the silkworms – looking after the silkworms during sleep – cleaning the place for feeding – looking after the silkworms during the period of cocooning – storing cocoons, spraying against diseases – offering silkworms for sale.
Where is it done and under what conditions? In sheltered places where the silkworms are bred and in the open air when picking up mulberry leaves, necessary for feeding or picking up of straw and bushes, necessary during the period of cocooning. The occupation is of a seasonal character. It is carried out in working clothes.
What tools/equipment do they use? Silkworm breeding rooms; crates, shelves, frames, paper for spreading of beds, polythene sheets, perforated paper, baskets for mulberry leaves etc.; instruments for picking up and cutting mulberry leaves; thermometer, hygrometer, stove, tools for cleaning and disinfecting.
What do you need to succeed? You need short initial training courses – preferably you should have competed secondary vocational training in the field of agriculture. Physical stamina, alertness, self-discipline, responsibility, and courtesy to customers are all important.