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How Ramtek’s Sericulture (Silk Farming) Changed Rural Lives

Sericulture (Silk Farming) in Ramtek
Sericulture (Silk Farming) in Ramtek

Ramtek, a small city in Nagpur district has quietly turned its fields into a surprising success story.


Farmers here have swapped traditional crops for silk farming, and the results are starting to show. This is what’s driving the change.


The Seeds of Change in Ramtek


Ramtek is known for its ancient temples and the calm expanse of Khindsi Lake. It’s a city that feels timeless, rooted in the rhythms of rural life.


Yet over the past decade, something new has stirred here. Farmers who once depended on crops like cotton or soybeans, yields dictated by fickle rains and market swings, began exploring a fresh path. That path led them to silkworms.


This shift owes much to Bhalchandra Dhote, a builder with farming in his blood. He saw an opportunity where others saw the same old fields.


Teaming up with twelve other agriculturists and industrialists he launched a bold venture through his company, Vidarbha Aawas Udyog Limited.


With 8-10 crore rupees invested and 1,000 local farmers on board, it became Nagpur district’s first corporate farming project. The aim was clear, to turn Ramtek into a centre for silk production.


Why pick Ramtek? The answer lies in its geography. Water flows more reliably here than in much of Vidarbha, a region often parched and unpredictable.

Mulberry trees, the backbone of silkworm rearing, thrive on steady irrigation. Ramtek’s advantage made it a smart choice, giving the project a solid foundation. It was a decision driven by practicality, not chance.


The setup is impressive. Spanning 25 acres, it houses rearing sheds, weaving units, and a processing hub.


Farmers are shareholders, each of the 1,000 holding a piece of the company. This ownership ties their efforts to the outcome, sparking a quiet drive to succeed. It’s a partnership built from the soil up, rooted in the community it serves.


By 2025, Maharashtra’s sericulture scene has grown, with 17,521 farmers planting mulberry across 18,607 acres statewide, producing 4,903 metric tons of cocoons annually. Ramtek plays a key part in Nagpur division’s four silk-producing districts, leveraging its water advantage to drive output.


Turning Cocoons into Cash

Mulberry Silk Cocoons in Ramtek
Mulberry Silk Cocoons in Ramtek

Life for Ramtek’s farmers used to mean slim pickings. Traditional crops brought in Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 a year. It was enough to get by, but barely.


Vidarbha has long grappled with agricultural struggles, from drought to debt. Silk changed the equation.

A single acre of mulberry can now yield Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month. For families counting every coin, that shift feels like a breakthrough.

The company offers a buy-back guarantee for cocoons, locking in a steady market. Farmers don’t waste time chasing buyers or fretting over prices. That certainty has encouraged many to dive in, easing the leap into unfamiliar territory.


Income aside, the project weaves in extra benefits. The “silk and milk” idea uses mulberry waste as dairy feed, opening a second revenue stream. Stems from the trees also turn into paper products, adding another angle to the operation.


This approach spreads the load. If silk prices waver, milk and paper keep the cash flowing. It blends farming traditions with a sharp eye for efficiency, making every resource count.

Studies in the region back this up. Sericulture outperforms older crops in profit, offering a steadier return where stability has been rare.


Training has smoothed the transition. The state directorate of sericulture, based in Nagpur city, provides hands-on support.


S.K. Sharma, the District Silk Development Officer, leads efforts to teach farmers the ropes, from local workshops to trips to other silk-producing states.


Most farmers here come from nuclear families and have an education past high school, which helps them grasp the technical side quickly. It’s a group primed to adapt, and they’re proving it.


Why Sericulture is Thriving in Ramtek


So, what keeps this silk venture ticking? One big factor is the hands-on guidance farmers get. Local sessions paired with trips to places like Karnataka, where silk has long been king, give farmers a clear playbook.


Look at Jalna district for a clue to Ramtek’s promise. There, Shri Rakhmaji Kisan Shelke started small in 2014-15 with half an acre.


By 2020, he’d scaled to 2.5 acres, pulling in Rs. 11.70 lakh from 4,225 kg of cocoons. His success nudged 20 others to jump in.



Ramtek’s setup takes that kind of spark and runs with it, spreading the gains across a bigger crowd.

The numbers hint at the potential. Back in 2017-18, Nagpur district’s 285 acres of mulberry churned out 1.666 kg of cocoons per acre each year. It’s a starting point, and Ramtek’s part in that is growing as farmers get sharper and tools get better.


A new centre opened in December 2023, blending sericulture with fish farming and mushrooms. By 2025, it’s testing how far diversification can stretch, with early signs pointing up.


A Silk Loom
A Silk Loom

Ramtek’s silk journey keeps evolving. Farmers here aren’t resting, they’re testing what else the land can offer, guided by experience and a willingness to try.


A place once bound by the seasons is now a proving ground for possibility.


This isn’t a one-off success. It’s a framework others might adapt, rough edges and all. For Ramtek’s families, it’s a chance to shape their own path, grounded in something tangible.


As the looms spin and the fields sway, there’s a sense of quiet confidence in the air. What comes next is theirs to write, and it’s a story worth watching.


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