Is eri silk rearing on castor a good low-cost option for a small farmer?

Eri is often the most beginner-friendly non-mulberry silk because the worm is hardy, reared indoors, and feeds on castor which is easy to grow, so it suits small and tribal farmers as a supplementary income. Eri cocoons are usually open-mouthed and the silk is spun (like wool) rather than reeled, and there is also a tradition of eating the pupa in the Northeast, so the worm has both fibre and food value. Income is supplementary and depends on how many rearing cycles you do, your cocoon quality and whether you sell cocoons, spun yarn or finished cloth (selling yarn or cloth earns more than raw cocoons). Get disease-free eri seed and training from the sericulture department or Central Silk Board, and start small. Treat it as steady side income, not a quick fortune.