Sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworms to produce silk. The domestic silkmoth caterpillar is the most commonly used silkworm species in sericulture, although other types of silkworms such as Eri, Muga, and Tasar are also cultivated for the production of "wild silks". India and China are the worlds leading producers of silk, with more than 60% of the worlds annual production. The sericulture process involves three primary steps for the production of mulberry silk: moriculture, silkworm rearing, and silk reeling.

• Moriculture: This is the cultivation of mulberry leaves, which are the primary food source for silkworms.

• Silkworm rearing: This step involves promoting the growth of the silkworms by providing them with a controlled environment and the necessary food.

• Silk reeling: This is the extraction of silk filaments from the silkworm cocoons.

Sericulture has become an important cottage industry in countries such as Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Russia. The history of sericulture dates back to the Neolithic period in China, where silk was first produced.

There are also sustainable methods of producing silk, such as Ahimsa silk (or peace silk), which does not involve the boiling of silkworm pupae and therefore does not violate the Ahimsa philosophy.

In summary, sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworms to produce silk, and it involves moriculture, silkworm rearing, and silk reeling. India and China are the worlds leading producers of silk, and there are also sustainable methods of producing silk.