Unveiling the challenges: A study on the status of Ericulture in nearby areas of Tihu, Nalbari district, Assam, India with reference to COVID-19 lockdown

The survey carried out between March to May, 2022, unveiled intriguing insights into the current state of eri-culture. Among the one hundred participating families, a noteworthy seventy were exclusively engaged in the delicate art of silkworm rearing, while the remaining families undertook the intricate processes of reeling, weaving and rearing. The revelations brought forth by this recent survey have shed light on the challenges faced by sericulture families during the COVID-19 pandemic. These dedicated practitioners encountered a range of issues, from the scarcity of essential food leaves and supplies to the lack of effective government support reaching deserving beneficiaries. Additionally, hurdles in marketing silkworms as a consumable, coupled with low rearing success rates and distressingly high mortality, have significantly impacted their practices. The exigencies of the pandemic-induced lockdown forced many practitioners to compromise on the equitable pricing of cocoons and to relinquish Eri silkworm rearing, marking a challenging period for this time-honored livelihood.