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Dr. Hiware talked about Agro Climatic Zones in India according to
different states.

He said that the major problem in agriculture today is the small and
fragmented holding. Soil erosion is another problem we are facing, he added.
Furthermore the agriculture is unorganised sector and climate change is
making it even worse. The increase in the global temperature is the most
important issue we are dealing with today. Changes in the seasonal cycles are
failing our crops and farmers and are committing suicides.

Prof. Hiware told that we need to give alternative to the farmers.
Sericulture is the best alternative and agricultural agriculture based industry.
Its product is silk. Sericulture is an important labour intensive forest. Dr.
Hiware added that it is the only cash crop that provides attractive income to
the farming community in general and to the small and marginal farmers in
particular.

There is no impact of climate change on the sericulture. The beauty of
this crop is farmers can take 10 crops in a year and if a crop fails there is no
impact on the farmer’s income. So farmers get income in every month. While
speaking about the labour, he said that farmers have to work only for twenty
days. They don't have to go in sun to work. After the leaves are brought, they
have to work inside the shade house.

Silk is the queen of the fabrics. It is known for its purity and luster. It
is natural based protein fiber, this is how Dr. Hiware described silk as a fiber.
In Maharashtra we have Mulberry and Tassar silk culture.

While stating the importance of sericulture he said that it has a high
employment potential and it is a women friendly occupation. It is an important
agro based enterprise adding value to the lives of farmers. Sericulture needs
low investment but it gives high returns. This is an eco-friendly and integrated
farming. Sericulture has the potential to stop the migration of people to the
bug cities. The demand of the silk has always been several times more than
its supply.

Prof. Hiware provided all the details about the sericulture in his
address- cum- presentation. His guidance gave new ensight to the students
and the participants of the conference. He talked about various enterprises
related to the sericulture and silk production to the weaving.

All the delagates liked his presentation very much.

The second session of the conference started at 2pm after the lunch.

Prof. N. N Bandela was the keynote speaker on the topic of Bioindicators
and their applications in the environment studies.