Tassar Silk, often referred to as wild silk, comes from the Antheraea moths. It is of two types: Tropical and Temperate.China is the largest producer of Tassar silk in the world followed by India. China produces only Temperate Tassar silk while India has got distinction in producing both tropical and temperate varieties. India is the only country where Tropical Tassar silk is produced.
Mostly tribal people are engaged in the production of Tassar cocoons,which are used, as raw material for production of silk. Out of the total tribal population of about 38 million nearly 30 million (77%)are located in Tasar cultivating states of tropical (25.67 million) and temperate (4.23million) belt. However, 13.2 and 1.32 lakh tribals are engaged in Tassar silkworm rearing in tropical zone. Almost an equal number is engaged in reeling, spinning and processing of Tassar cocoons and silk out of the total available forest area of 445.25 ha.
It is copper color, coarse silk mainly used for furnishings and interiors. It is less lustrous than mulberry silk, but has its own feel and appeal. Tassar silk is generated by the silkworm, Antheraea mylitta which mainly thrive on the food plants Asan and Arjun. The cocoons are first dried in the sun to kill the silkworm and then soaked in boiling water to soften the silk before it is reeled.
The Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organisation (BTSSO) was established by the Central Silk Board in the year 1998-99 with the objective to strengthen the Tassar silkworm seed sector by vitalizing three-tier seed multiplication system on scientific lines. The headquarters of BTSSO is in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) and there are 23 nested units.
