Impact of Climate Change on Sericulture: Adaptation Strategies and Future Directions

Global warming affects different natural systems which include agricultural systems. Sericulture, the rearing of silkworms for the purpose of silk production, has a history stretching back thousands of years. In this section, we will study about the biological profile and life cycle of the silkworm (Bombyx mori), the major sericulture producing countries across the globe, and the socioeconomic importance of sericulture in different countries. Climate change can be defined as slow and gradual changes in temperature, rainfall, and other atmospheric conditions on the Earth’s surface mainly caused by activities like the use of fossil energies and destruction of forests. The measures towards adaptation of sericulture under climate change involve a combination of technological, agronomic, and policy changes. Sericulture can be sustained despite changing climatic conditions through resilience and innovation that ensures that many people have source of income and livelihood.