CSRTI hosts EntoNext 2026, national meet on sustainable sericulture technologies  

Mysuru: Karnataka is working towards making India a global leader in silk production through sustainable sericulture, value addition, entrepreneurship and climate-resilient technologies, C.T. Shilpa Nag, Commissioner for Sericulture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, said yesterday. 

Addressing the inaugural session of EntoNext 2026, a National Conference on ‘Eco-Smart Entomology,’ organised by the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) under the Central Silk Board (CSB), she said that Karnataka continues to lead the country in silk production and has notified five silk parks to boost the sector. 

Mechanisation, research  

Noting that sericulture is a key livelihood for thousands of farmers, she said Karnataka has 1.22 lakh hectares of mulberry cultivation, with most growers owning less than one hectare. She stressed that mechanisation research should focus on affordable technologies tailored to the needs of small and marginal farmers. 

Calling for sustainable growth, Shilpa Nag emphasised the need for organic pest management, advanced disease surveillance, climate resilience, efficient water use and digital advisory systems. Subsidies, she said, offer only short-term support, while long-term growth depends on economic sustainability, value addition and export promotion. 

She also highlighted the scope for value addition through by-products, including the use of silkworm pupae for poultry and fish feed, pupa oil extraction, spun silk production and composting. 

Tech adoption 

The Commissioner said that Karnataka, in collaboration with the CSB, is planning to establish Environment Control (EC) sheds for silkworm rearing. She also urged wider adoption of technologies such as heat-tolerant and disease-resistant silkworm races, IoT-based applications, colour-sorting machines and egg dispensers to bridge the gap between research  and field application. 

She added that the State plans to promote Vanya silks (Eri, Muga and Tasar) in weaving to support the livelihoods of tribal and marginalised communities. Citing an example from Chamarajanagar district, she said women are earning sustainable incomes by making cocoon garlands. 

Focus on sustainable sericulture 

The conference , themed “Eco-Smart Entomology for Sustainable Sericulture: Innovate, Protect and Prosper,”brought together scientists, researchers and officials from the Central Silk Board, ICAR and universities to deliberate on sustainable pest management, climate challenges and emerging technologies in sericulture. 

Welcoming the participants, Dr. P. Deepa, Director, CSB-CSRTI, said the conference aims to promote eco-friendly pest management in mulberry by reducing dependence on chemical pesticides through biological, botanical and ecological approaches. 

A bibliography on silkworm uzi fly was released during the inaugural session. Dr. S. Manthira Moorthy, Director (Technical), CSB, called for closer collaboration among CSB institutes, ICAR and universities to develop innovative and sustainable pest management solutions for the sericulture sector. 

The conference also featured lectures by Dr. Chandish Ballal, former Director of National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), on eco-friendly pest management and Dr. Renee M. Borges of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, on chemical ecology. 

Scientists from CSB, ICAR, universities and  Sericulture Department participated. Dr. Mahiba Helen and her team co-ordinated.