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Temperate
Oak Tasar Silk
At AT India, the oak tasar silk program has been our ‘flagship’
programme. It best reflects our approach to forest conservation
and livelihood promotion through enterprise development. Oak
tasar silk production uses oak leaves as food for the silkworms
during rearing stages. Leaf harvesting performs a pruning
function that promotes regeneration of foliage. Oak tasar cocoon
and silk production results in the generation of a good income
from oak leaves, providing an incentive for sustainable
management of the oak forest ecosystem. Over the seven years,
the program has evolved to all stages of silk production—from
cocoon rearing, yarn processing through spinning and reeling
upto weaving of silk fabric. Some of AT India’s milestones in
this program include:
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The first ever
commercial production of oak tasar sericulture in the Garhwal
Himalayas, achieved for the first time in India.
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Promotion of oak
tree nurseries (serrata) and plantations and protection of
saplings in local communities
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The establishment
of a grainage for silk worm “seed” production, cocoon
preservation and chawkie rearing in high altitude areas
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Chamoli Tasar, AT
India’s silk enterprise was the single largest producer of oak
cocoons in the country in 2003 with a record harvest of 30 lakh
cocoons
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Families earn
incomes by rearing silk worms (after chawkie rearing) and
selling the cocoons back to the enterprise.
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Women involved in
reeling/spinning earn more than Rs 1000 per month and are paid
for yarn spun on a per kg basis.
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Around 700
families benefit from participation in silk worm rearing, cocoon
production, silk yarn spinning & reeling and weaving activities.
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Traditional
weavers are being upgraded to handlooms and are employed in
weaving silk and wool blended products such as shawls, stoles,
mufflers and furnishing.
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“Himalayan Silk” –
oak tasar silk and wool blended products are being successfully
marketed at exclusive outlets in Delhi and other parts of India.
The temperate oak tasar silk project |
The honey and beekeeping project |
Self Help Groups and microfinance
Conservation and plantation |
Dairy development – business development services |
Ringal and Lichens
Village based Ecotourism |
Interpretation Centers
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