Integrated Tasar Sericulture: A Nexus of Bioresource Utilization and Socioeconomic Resilience in Jharkhand's Anthropogenic Landscapes

The rich Jharkhand in significant mineral resources still faces socio-economic inequality and developmental problems. Although India has about 35.5% coal reserves, 90% coal, 40% copper and significant amounts of Avro, Bauxite and iron ore, the state of Human Development Index (HDI) is one of the poorest states [1,2]. More than 75% of its residents live in rural areas and about 28% of the tribal group population, the region is characterized by severe poverty, limited health care access, low educational achievements and gender-related discrimination in nutrition well-being [2,3]. In this context, Tasar Silk Farm (Ban-based silk cultivation) has emerged as an encouraging alternative living, especially made for tribes and forest-dependent communities in Jharkhand and surrounding regions. Unlike traditional agriculture, Tasar silk production combines local environmental insights, biodiversity preservation and sustainable low-ion methods, which makes it a suitable initiative for sensitive rain-based ecosystem and economically disadvantaged communities [4,5].

Fig.1.Tasar Silk Cultivation

Socioeconomic and Demographic Challenges in Resource-Rich Jharkhand

Jharkhand, a natural resource haven - responsible for a large portion of the country's coal, copper, iron ore, mica and other minerals - is still struggling with socioeconomic problems. The state holds about 35.5% of the country's coal reserves, 90% of coking coal, 40% of copper, 22% of iron ore and significant quantities of mica, bauxite, quartz and ceramics. Yet, this prosperity contrasts sharply with the living standards of its inhabitants, especially in rural areas. More than three-quarters of Jharkhand's population lives in villages, with a high proportion of Scheduled Castes (91%) and Scheduled Tribes (95%). Tribal s make up about 28% of the total population, making them one of the most socio-economically disadvantaged groups. The general population grew by 22.3% last year, dwarfing the tribal population. The reasons for this situation include the increase in industrial activities, urban growth, low birth rate, high death rate, influx of non-indigenous ethnic groups into the state and migration of various tribal communities. In terms of human development, the performance of the region is poor, with the country having one of the lowest standards in the Human Development Index [16-18]. The literacy rate is still below the national average, as seen in the Greek literacy rate of 67.6%. There is a significant gender disparity, as the female rate is only 56.21%, while the male rate is 78.45%. The center and poverty indicators also demonstrate the lack of development in the country. The hunger threshold, as defined by the hunger indicator core, is the place among the most insecure sections. Poverty is still a significant problem, with more than 45% of the population living below the income poverty line. Assessed from the perspective of multidimensional poverty - which includes education, health and travel conditions - this figure has increased to about 74.8%. These disparities further shape the Jharkhand alliance: a region that is peaceful but moving in profit [19,20].

Fig.2.Jharkhand: Resource Abundance Vs Socioeconomic Challenges

Gender Disparities and Livelihood Challenges in Jharkhand

Jharkhand has significant gender inequality in various human development index. The state is on the bottom side of gender development, which reveals significant discrimination in health, education and economic participation of women. Especially the high rate of malnutrition in women, indicates the flaws of state healthcare system. Women’s participation in formal workplace is limited, mostly working in informal jobs where the situation is often exploitative. The rate of child and child mortality in the state is extremely high, which is ranked 8th and 14th in Jharkhand country respectively. This death rate is strongly associated with high reproduction rates, multiple pregnancies and insufficient maternal health—especially among rural, low income and low educated young mothers. Newborn mortality is a significant proportion of child death, closely associated with insufficient maternal health and insufficient prenatal care. Statistically, one in 19 died in the first year of a child’s life and one in 13 died before the age of five [21-23]. Anemia affects a significant number of women, of which about 75% suffer from this problem, which poses risks for maternal and child health. Rural poverty is still prevalent, especially among women, which limits access to necessary services and economic opportunities. Despite these difficulties, Jharkhand has enough unused potential. The lifestyle implementation program, especially the program focused on the production of teaser silk, has begun to show encouraging results. Government initiatives focus on poverty reduction, efficiency development and adoption of technology support these effects. Intervention awaited at increasing income and improving living standards of rural women. By effectively using natural and human resources, Jharkhand can achieve inclusive and sustainable development [24,25].

Fig.3.Gender Inequality and Health Challenges in Jharkhand

Fig.4.Integrated Tasar Sericulture System in Jharkhand and Maharashtra

Integrated Tasar-Based Livelihood Models for Enhancing Rural Incomes

Ranchi’s Central Tasar Research and Training Institute (CTR&TI) advised to adopt an integrated agricultural system strategy for increasing income to the teaser silk farmers. This method includes planting pulses national and finance crops including pulses, snacks, snacks, snacks, and niger. If planting this crop in the monsoon season – usually for oilseeds in July and late August – significantly in per hectare can be income between Rs 23,000 to Rs 41,000, thereby expanding the source of income and improving the productivity of the land. In the tribal regions of Maharashtra, especially in the Garachiroli and Chandrapur, Tasar observation has become an important additional source of income, especially in the rainy period when agriculture is slow and labor costs are low. Families who participated in silk insect cultivation usually spend about 80-90 days in the forest for this work, resulting in reliable seasonal income [26-28]. Nonprofit organizations have made significant contributions to expansion of livelihood opportunities in these regions. Programs that integrate aquatic development, agricultural forestry, gardening and health initiatives – particularly targets women and children – have done both environmental stability and economic improvements. These combined initiatives have resulted in additional annual income from ?8,000 to ?10,000 to ?10,000 from supplementary activity such as vegetable cultivation and collecting woodless forest products. In Jharkhand, a multi-year development initiative supported by national institutions implemented an integrated model that combines the garden with gardening, cultivates advanced rice cultivation techniques and intercrops. This project, implemented in areas such as Godda and Dumka, has also established important community benefits such as Tuser warehouse and Drying Unit. This comprehensive approach has increased family income by about ?25,000 per year, reflecting the success of an overall and resource-driven strategy to increase rural economic stability. With soil decay in the mountain region, excessive absorption of the seaside habitat plants is causing nutrient damage to the soil, which is negatively affecting the biomass and cocoon production of leaves in the cultivation of the trashed silk. To deal with these problems, green fertilizer has been applied as sustainable soil management techniques in the trasquer garden. These include pulses such as horns, rash, cholera and black pellets during the rainy season and mixed on the ground after the growth of adequate plant. Crops are essential to increase soil structure, increase fertility and improve water retention, simultaneously reduce corrosion. Field research conducted in rain-based trashing garden found that pulse national Malaching greatly improves the characteristics of important soil. This includes increased water retention capacity, increased humidity preservation, increased organic carbon growth and high density of important nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. Moreover, beneficial changes in the physical properties of the soil have been noticed – such as reducing bulk density and increasing the perforation. In addition to improving the quality of the soil, the use of green fertilizer has demonstrated encouraging results in the growth of inflatable plants, especially terminalia tomentosa, resulting in increased cocoon yield and silk production. This combined soil fertility management technique increases long-term durability and economic performance of threshold agricultural system, especially in precipitation-related and environmentally fragile regions [29-32].

Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Tasar Host Plant Protection

The integrated pest management (IPM) is an ecosystem-centric technique that highlights the relationship between beneficial, neutral and harmful organisms in agricultural ecosystems. Its aim is to reduce crop loss and reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, simultaneously increase farmers’ participation in decision making, increase income and maintain environmental health. In the cultivation of threshold, IPM is essential for control of insects that control insects that affect the health and productivity of insects. Treasure insect attack, which can greatly reduce the quality and production of leaf. To deal with it, a complete IPM method has been created, including cultural, mechanical and biological control techniques. Important ingredients include suspending insect trimming insects to disrupt the life cycle, removing and disposing the insect leaves to prevent insects, improving the soil and using organic additives obtained from nim cake such as nim cake to insects and insects to control especially efficient insects. Moreover, the formulations obtained from NIM have been effectively used to control another harmful insect of the trashed garden, cheese eating caterpillar. These combined methods improve both the quality and quantity of leaves available for silk insect cultivation, and at the same time build a durable and environment-friendly silk cultivation system [33-36].

Integrated Farming Systems for Sustainable Tasar Sericulture and Livelihood Enhancement

Tasar Silk Farming contributes significant to the socio-economic structure of tribes and forests, acting as a method of income source and forest conservation. Tarasar silk cultivation in forests encourages durable methods, such as protecting the host trees, filling vacuum and introducing new host species, which helps maintain environmental balance. When combined with related work such as other farming and crop cultivation, seeds production and small agricultural-business, the yield of the trash increases the possibility of employment and economic gains. Working like silk insects, cocoons and seeds production, reeling, spinning and yarns make not only involve farmers’ family but also create employment for the larger community. This integrated strategy makes the use of resources per unit space and time best, which encourages the flow of an continuous income throughout the year. The integrated agricultural system (IFS) model enables continuous income throughout the year by selling different host-related products such as cocoons, seeds, pores and raw silk. Farmers who don’t usually participate in silk cultivation can engage in the production of seeds for seasonal income through low investment and effort, until they follow quality control standards and best practice. Integrating various agricultural methods with teasy silk cultivation can result in farmers’ economic benefits from different products, resulting in stable cash flow and improving quality of living of poor, tribal and marginal families [37,38]. A family employed in forest-based trash silk insect usually earns about ?13,000 per year and this income could potentially be more than ?21,000 by implementing integrated observation methods. In addition, integrated agricultural systems make maximum use of land and converts waste from one activity to another activities, reducing costs and increasing profitability – thus strengthening the economic performance of the trash silk cultivation [39,40].

Opportunities and Challenges in the Contemporary Tasar Silk Industry

India’s Tsar Silk sector, which is strongly associated with cultural heritage and rural economies, is currently undergoing a significant transformation under globalization, technical progress and changing consumer choice. Even despite its environmental importance and attraction to handicrafts, this sector is facing ongoing problems that limit its full potential. The reasons include insufficient infrastructure, dependence on old production methods, limited access to modern technology and limited market reach. A significant external challenge is the growing popularity of synthetic materials, which provides cost-effectiveness and flexibility, which reduces the demand for natural silk products. Productivity in supply chain has decreased due to technical limitations in the production of trask silk and has been inefficient. Mechanization and adoption of modern equipment remain limited, especially in rural and tribal areas where the cultivation of threshold is mainly practiced. Moreover, synthetic cloth competitions and weak branding initiatives have also hindered the expansion of industry in local and world markets. Yet, there’s positive progress. Government programs and partnerships between public and private sectors have begun to deal with these challenges through specific steps. Financial support, training and market connectivity initiatives are increasing the skills of the teaser producers. The growing awareness of environmental durability and moral use has led to resurrecting interest in Tsar Silk, known for its bio-integrated features, minimal environmental impacts and socioeconomic benefits for disadvantaged communities. The underlying beauty of the trasse silk, characterized by its luxury structure and distinct color, aligns optimally with the growing market of cloth made environmentally friendly and policyly. With the change of the choice of consumers who are turning towards durable options, Tasar Silk is ready to achieve more prominent position in the high-price market. With the integration of advanced technology, infrastructure improvement and expansion of strategic market connectivity, the industry can deal with its existing challenges. Through adequate support and innovation, the production of trussy silk can be transformed into a strong, durable and internationally competitive industry that helps in environmental protection and rural development [41-44].

Evolving Market Dynamics and Global Opportunities for Tasar Silk

Tasar Silk sector works in increasingly dynamic and competitive international markets that are affected by changing consumer habits, sustainability concerns and technical innovations. It is essential to understand this market mobility for industrial participants seeking to exploit new opportunities and deal with sector-specific problems. Current trends show the choice of consumers to environment-friendly and policy-made fabrics growing towards clothes. With growing awareness about environmental concerns and ethical production, Tuser Silk is becoming recognized as a suitable alternative to artificial materials. Its underlying bio-causing and minimal environmental impact makes it a perfect option for environmentally aware customers who follow durable luxury. In addition, Tarre Silk’s unique features – such as its underlying glossy, the possibility of various colors shades and adaptive weaving – have established it as a premium cloth with considerable attraction to the international fashion and lifestyle sector. In addition to its environmental benefits, Tasar Silk plays an important role in socio-economic growth, especially in rural and tribal areas where silk cultivation is an essential way to livelihoods. From silk insect cultivation to weaving - the marginal community participation in different stages of silk production increases the moral value of final products[45,46]. This social aspect attracts the growing group of socially aware consumers, resulting in increased product demand and increased brand loyalty. The growth of the market is also affected by macroeconomic components, such as increasing cost-effective income, changing fashion trends and changing consumers’ taste in both improved and emerging markets. With the growing desire of luxury products, the demand for independent, handmade textile also increases as trasse silk. In addition, global trade policy, duty and regulatory structure have significant impact on export capacity and international competitiveness. Digital Transformation of Marketing has created additional opportunities for Silk producers. E-commerce sites, social media interactions and digital description now enables producers and artisans to present their products directly to a global audience. These tools increase the visibility of the brand, increase the consumer connection and improve access to special markets. Tasar Silk Market is characterized by durable enterprises, moral purchase, technical progress and global demand of luxury fabrics. By compatibility with these issues and using its underlying cultural and environmental benefits, the Tasar Silk sector is ideally located to achieve the growing part of the global textile market, which provides considerable opportunities for growth, price growth and inclusive progress [47-49].

Fig.5.Multidimensional Dynamics of the Tasar Silk Sector

Policy Support and Strategic Interventions for Strengthening the Tasar Silk Sector

Government strategy and market interference play an important role in creating a favorable environment for the development of the Tasar silk industry. Centralized support initiatives such as financial awards, subsidies and infrastructure development can greatly strengthen small-level producers, weavers and tribal groups involved in the Tusar Silk cultivation. These steps help reduce production costs, increase resources access and increase overall efficiency. Moreover, efforts aimed at quality assurance and branding, such as accept standard certification standards and achieve geographical indication (GI) status, can significantly increase the reliability of the traser silk products and market application. These steps not only protect the basicity of local silk types but also increase the difference of consumers’ confidence and brand in the national and international market. Tasar Silk price keeps significant promises for chain innovation, durability and inclusive growth. Accepting modern technology, encouraging sustainable practices and simplifying market access, partners can turn Tasar Silk as a catalyst for economic growth and rural empowerment. Moreover, strategic marketing and policy combination can establish Tasar Silk as environmentally friendly, competitive textiles worldwide that help preserve environmental and maintain rich technical traditions in India. To unveil these opportunities, coordinating efforts to tackle current challenges, increasing institutional support and encouraging skills development is essential, thereby ensuring long-term elasticity and success of the teaser silk industry [50-52].

Fig.6.Government Strategy &Market Influence on Tasar Silk Industry

Role of Self-Help Groups in Promoting Sustainable Tasar Sericulture

SHGs help promote biodiversity preservation and sustainable land use, contributes to health and elasticity of important forest ecosystems for growth of threshold host plants. Their work is very important in compatible with the goal of local production methods to greater environmental conservation. In addition to environmental benefits, SHGs acts as a facility provider of socio-economic empowerment by promoting collective efforts, increase access to resources and encouraging knowledge exchange amongst the veteran producers. They provide a platform for rural and tribal communities to deal with problems related to market access, financial inclusion and technology taking. Through joint decision-making and mutual support, SHGs improve the ability to take contemporary silk cultivation methods of small-level manufacturers and actively engage in price chain. In general, SHGs act as an essential catalyst for inclusive development, helping to improve the economic development of the disadvantaged community and sustainable progress in the trash silk sector. Their community’s involvement ensures permanent benefits by combining environmental supervision with social and economic stability [53-55].

Livelihood Challenges and Tasar Sericulture as an Alternative for Forest-Dependent Communities

The lives of tribal families living in forest and border areas have been greatly influenced by forest fleet and forest resources loss. This reduction has led to decrease access to conventional income sources from forest, increasing economic weakness. Other challenges include insufficient soil covering, frequent crop rotation, soil degradation, insects and disease events, increased agricultural materials costs and limited access to formal loan options. Many families depend on rain-based farming, which is facing unexpected precipitation and low crop yields, especially in rice cultivation. Infrastructure defects, especially inadequate road communication and rainy season – for four to five months – disrupts transportation – making these communities more isolated. Social responsibilities such as family assembly and significant expenses for medical emergency often cause pressure on family budget. Without access to institutional loans, numerous families tend to informal lenders who take high interest rates, resulting in a cycle of loans and financial difficulties. These economic problems, with external social-political effects, have caused severe volatility in certain regions such as Godchiroli. Despite this limitation, Tasar has become a potential additional source of silk cultivation income. Usually, it starts after the farming season in September, while labor surplus and minimum opportunity expenses. Tribal communities usually participate in silk insect cultivation in the local forest region, give 80-90 days in this practice. Tarasan cultivation provides a sustainable income-producing opportunity that improves current agricultural methods as well as encouraging forest conservation and community involvement. In the local livelihood structure, inclusion of silk cultivation creates a path to economic stability for tribal communities depending on forests [56-59].

Diversified Seasonal Livelihoods for Tribal Communities through Region-Specific Interventions

Accepts the requirements of more inclusive and participatory development strategy, emphasized on cooperating with them instead of working for the community. A wide range of methods include technologies and practices made for specific regions to deal with limited opportunities for farmers families. The seasonal aspect of agriculture, which usually takes only 4-6 months a year for tribal families, leading to chronic economic inactivity, leading to financial instability and increased immigration. To meet this vacuum, various alternative seasonal livelihood activities have been implemented, such as plumber cultivation, lacquer cultivation, water brown and fish cultivation, as well as the collection of rock bee honey [61,62]. These diversified livelihood options have shown encouraging results in improving income stability and resources during non-agricultural periods. In the monsoon-next season, tribal groups usually participate in seasonal employment with wood-external forest products (NTFPs) collection, hunting, or forest department. Nevertheless, the rise of alternative livelihoods, especially among young people, has stimulated significant interest in learning new skills to increase agricultural income and reduce dependence on temporary work. Participation in various revenue activities throughout the year not only ensures financial stability and consistent employment but also helps preserve forests and reduces seasonal immigration. This comprehensive strategy improves the overall lifestyle quality, enhances the elasticity of the community and encourages sustainable rural growth [63-65].

Community-Based Approach for Promoting Tasar Sericulture in Tribal Regions

Between 2008 and 2013, a systematic and community-based method was implemented to promote and promote trash silk cultivation in Chandrapur and the Garachiroli region. The targeted NAIP cluster recognizes the initial slight possibility of the original villages – mainly due to insufficient awareness and involvement – systematic action was taken to identify suitable areas with the availability of sufficient natural host plants for the cultivation of the Tarask silk. This initiative began with inclusive village assembly and concept-making session so that confidence increased and gathered from the community. Question Answers were held to evaluate the presence of residential plants, which was successful by understanding the community’s requirements through participatory rural evaluation (PRA) activities and selecting suitable participants. This approach allowed self-help groups (SHG) and dedicated Tasar Kosa Groups to support initiatives at the community level. For enhancing skills and understanding, practical display of training workshops, peer-to-peer farmers exchange, site inspection and silk insect-keeping techniques were arranged. Materials were allocated for cherishing, and the process was carefully supervised by specialist inspection to ensure quality and uniformity. The production process included cocoons collection, selecting seeds cocoons for their grading and production of disease-free para (DFL), as well as cocoons-next management. There were also initiatives aimed at establishing strong front and rear connections to improve marketing, price increase and resource administration. Through this centralized and inclusive intervention, tribal communities gained the ability to adopt scientific methods in the cultivation of teasy silk, which improved their chances of livelihood and encouraged the sustainable use of natural resources [66-69].

Fig.7.systematic Community-Based Approach for Sustainable Tasar Silk Cultivation

Fig.8.Tasar silk worm Genome

Gender-Inclusive Sustainable Development through Tasar Sericulture under MKSP

The underlying view of the sustainable development goal 5 (SDG 5) recognizes the systemic obstacles that women face in many cases due to deeply rooted social-cultural practices. In this context, the female Kishan Self-Authorization Project (MKSP) acts as a strategic method that affects policy and resources distribution to address gender inequality and rural poverty [85,86]. Due to the outbreak of the disease and minimal economic gains, formerly corrosive traditional livelihoods among tribal communities has felt a significant resurrection for the MKSP initiative. By incorporating contemporary technology and institutional support in the price chain, the project has transformed the trash production into a potential and sustainable source of income, which provides permanent socioeconomic and environmental benefits. This initiative increases their economic freedom by involving women in a sustainable, low-cost production method and improves their access and rule over natural resources. This initiative is compatible with the greater environmental goals of sustainable development by encouraging forest preservation and durability of resources. According to SDG 15.2 that encourages sustainable forest management and increased forestry, MKSP effectively integrates social forestry into its work structure. Using Treasure Residential Tree Planting, it helps in restoring biodiversity, taking carbon and boosting climate resilience (supports SDG 13 and 15). Since the start of this program, 27,232 female farmers in six states that are implemented projects, most of whom received support from the Scheduled Tribal Community. Notably, 2,361 women managed 1,284 hectares and maintained 2,336 hectares of residential trees in private property using seeds provided by Kishan Nursery. Jharkhand has become the top state for both beneficiary coverage and residential tree planting places. Before MKSP, significant threats for farming of the trim seeds were the damage of forest land, industrial penetration and insufficient care of residential trees. This initiative has changed this trend by encouraging growth of planting in private and underestimated government land. So far, the program has helped 15,320 nurses – of which 453 nucleus seeds are performing, 2,052 pre-seeding and 12,815 commercial nurses – who need residential forestry on about 10,000 hectares (at a rate of 0.7 hectares for each nursing). This initiative not only helped protect the current forest but also planted about 1,500 hectares of land. In addition, the progress of domestic agricultural forestry system provides climate-tolerant, sustainable agricultural methods that combine environmental conservation with economic growth [87-89].

Fig.9.Tasar Sericulture in MKSP