Assam: Youth turns scientific Eri silk and mushroom farming into lakhs
Sivasagar, June 11
Defying the conventional rush for government jobs, Dhruvajit Hatibaruah, a highly educated youth from Dikchu in Sivasagar district of Assam, has set a stellar example of self-reliance through agro-based entrepreneurship.
Holding a bachelor's degree in Economics, Dhruvajit embarked on his journey with just 20 silkworms back in 2022, strongly supported by his parents. Today, his venture has scaled into a highly profitable scientific enterprise.
Initially starting on a traditional, small scale, Dhruvajit later integrated technical assistance from the Assam State Sericulture Department. He now practices fully scientific Eri and Muga silkworm rearing. Because the Eri silkworm production cycle takes only 40 days, he sustains this production year-round.
The economic dynamics of his farm are highly impressive. Eri Silk Yarn (Raw) sells between 600 and 800 per kg in the current market.
Silkworm Pupae (Leta) is highly sought after as a nutritious traditional food delicacy, fetching up to 1,000 per kg.
Even the silkworm excrement is packaged and sold successfully as premium organic bio-fertiliser.
Expanding his horizons, Dhruvajit has also cornered a massive local market by cultivating commercial mushrooms. He grows Oyster mushrooms throughout the year, alongside seasonal Milky and Paddy Straw variants during the summer, while actively providing training to other aspiring growers.
The global significance of his work hits close to home. Prime Minister Narendra Modi famously promoted the Northeast's Eri silk globally as eco-friendly 'Peace Silk'.
Notably, during his visit to Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a beautiful handwoven Assamese Eri silk garment to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, elevating its international prestige.
Local experts note that if the government can bridge technical export gaps to allow direct international shipping from Assam, youth like Dhruvajit could single-handedly globalise the rural economy of Sivasagar.
"I am engaged in Eri silkworm farming in Sivasagar district, Assam. I started this journey after leaving college, intending to become self-reliant and create income-generating opportunities in rural areas. Eri farming offers a promising business opportunity because it can be reared several times a year. It not only produces silk but also provides pupae, which are a nutritious traditional food," Dhruvajit said
Additionally, the waste is used as organic bio-fertiliser. Although I have not received financial assistance from the department, their technical advice and guidance have been extremely helpful. I am sincerely grateful to the Department of Sericulture and especially to Dip Gogoi for his continuous motivation. Through this, we earn an average monthly income of Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000, making it a sustainable livelihood for my family," he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great initiative! But why is he not getting financial assistance from the department? Technical advice is good, but without proper funding, how many can really scale up? The government should ensure easy loans or subsidies for such agro-entrepreneurs. Otherwise, it remains a story of individual struggle rather than a replicable model.
As someone from the US, this is fascinating. Using silkworm waste as fertilizer and selling pupae as food is brilliant zero-waste farming. The Prime Minister promoting this globally is smart diplomacy. I'd love to try Eri silk - knowing it's 'peace silk' where the moth isn't killed makes it ethical too.
Dhruvajit is the real 'Atmanirbhar' hero we need. 🚀 From 20 silkworms to a thriving enterprise with mushrooms too - that's entrepreneurial brilliance. The North East has so much potential in sericulture and organic farming. With proper export infrastructure, Sivasagar could become a global hub for Eri silk.
The economics is impressive: Eri yarn at Rs 600-800/kg, pupae at Rs 1,000/kg, AND bio-fertilizer from waste. Plus mushroom revenue. But I'm concerned - if this becomes popular, will there be market price crashes? The government needs to create stable market linkages and maybe a MSP for such products.
This is a wonderful case study in sustainable entrepreneurship. Using the entire silkworm lifecycle for multiple products - silk, food, fertilizer - shows indigenous wisdom combined with modern science. The fact that Prime Minister Modi gifted this to the Italian PM
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