Abstract
Eri silkworm (Philosamia ricini Bosid) is an economic insect which is brought to be reared and used for many beneficial aspects because of it strength, easy rearing and established rearing technique as well as domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori Linn.). The main foods for eri silkworm are cassava (Manihot esculenta L.) and castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) leaves. The eri silkworm egg production and its rearing at the farmer practice project in northeastern Thailand has been conducted in 2008–2009 (for 2 years) at The Queen Sirikit of Sericulture Center (Nongkai and Chaiyaphum provinces) to produce eri silkworm eggs and distribute them to farmers for rearing. In this case farmers can earn money by selling fresh
cocoons. The farmers who participated this project comprised persons from 4 provinces nearby area (Khonkaen, Chaiyaphum, Mahasarakham and Mukdaharn provinces). The total number of farmers was 20 persons, among whom were five farmers selected from each province to join the project. The workshop and training course of “Eri Silkworm Rearing” had been made for 4 days at The Queen Sirikit of Sericulture Center (Nongkai) to farmers who joined this project. Then, eri silkworm eggs were distributed to them for rearing. The results indicated that the entire farmer who had been trained could rear the eri silkworm very well which produced good quality of eri silkworm cocoons and high fresh cocoon weight in particular at the farmer from Chaiyaphum and Khonkaen provinces. Therefore, farmers could earn supplementary income and had more experiences to rear eri silkworm with high potential.
