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Study the Feasibility and Potential of Solar Applications in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural India
FIGURE 9: Silk reeling in Unnati machine
Seraikela Kharsawan is known for its organic cocoons and Kuchai silk fabric. The Directorate of Sericulture is the principal agency responsible for promoting tussar sericulture in the state and has already established around 30 common facility centres (CFCs) in Kharsawan cluster alone and there are around 176 CFCs in the entire Kolhan Pargana. The CFCs provide necessary building infrastructure and machinery for spinning and reeling. The Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd (JHARCRAFT) works for creating sustainable livelihoods in rural areas based on sericulture, handloom, handicrafts, and other allied activities.
Production process In reeling process, the cocoons are ‘cooked’ in hot water to loosen their outer portion (sericin), which makes unwinding easy without breakage. Traditional chulhas using firewood are used for cocoon cooking. The cocoons after cooking are reeled in different types of machines. Many
cocoons are reeled simultaneously to find an unbreakable single thread. The CFCs in the cluster are equipped with 30 ‘Unnati’ machines for reeling and 3 re-reeling machines for the production of hanks/skeins. Hanks are directly utilized as a wrap during the weaving process. During the survey, it was found that each woman worker prepares around 1 kg of hank in a period of 6–7 days by working around 7–8 hours a day. The monthly production of the hank fibre varies from 3 kg to 6 kg depending on the skill of the worker and un-interrupted operations of reeling machines. The prepared hanks are delivered to JHARCRAFT that supplies those to various weaver clusters operating in different parts of the state.
Design of solar PV At present, the reeling machines (Unnati) are powered by solar PV systems installed at the CFCs. The installed solar capacity is around 900 Wp for 30 Unnati machine and is already more than 10 years. It has been reported that the
