Ericulture as a Remedy of Rural Poverty in Assam: A Micro Level Study in Barpeta District

Ericulture i.e., rearing of eri cocoon and spinning as well as weaving of endi clothes has been an integral part of the rural economic activities especially of the rural women in Assam. Though both male and female folk of all sections of rural population have been engaged in different sericulture activities, tribal women have been predominant in the rearing and weaving of eri raw silk and endi textiles, who in addition to their daily household activities use their leisure time and with the help of their traditionally inherited knowledge produce useful but comparatively cheaper endi clothes. The activities not only help to increase their household income but also help many of them to come out of the acute poverty. Moreover, these women become economically and thus socially more empowered. An attempt is made in this paper to throw some light on the role of ericulture and endi-entrepreneurship in the generation of income, employment and removal of poverty in Assam.