Sericulture is recognized as one of the most promising and ideally suited industry for the socio-economic development of rural area and for providing employment opportunities with minimum investment and profitable returns within a short gestation period. Being labour intensive rural based industry, it offers a solution aimed at poverty alleviation, with creation of a chain of employment from unskilled farm labourer to skilled artisans; especially women folk. It generates income for people below the poverty line in the rural areas, particularly for women.

                    Manipur produces all four types of natural silk namely mulberry, tasar, eri and Muga. Sericulture has a long tradition in the State. It has been practiced by the farmers from time immemorial though on a limited scale. The sericulture industry was earlier confined only in a few villages. Mulberry silkworm rearing and reeling was confined to four villages viz., Khurkhul, Leimaram, Pheiyeng and Thongjao. Eri silk rearing was conducted for domestic consumption by the womenfolk. Silk weaving was confined to other villages viz. ChingmeirongKaboLeikai, Thangmeiband, AwangKongpal, MaibamLeikai and Wangkhei etc. However, sericulture activities have now extended to other villages, including in the hill districts of the State.