An Economic Analysis of Mulberry Cultivation, Production and Marketing of Silk Cocoons in Northern Karnataka
Loading...
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
Sericulture is one of the important sub-sectors of India agriculture and plays an
important role in the farm economy. The present study was attempted to analyse trends in
mulberry area, cocoon production, and its productivity in the traditional and non-traditional
districts and for the state as well for the period from 2001-02 to 2010-11. Costs and return
structures, marketing of cocoon, constraints in sericulture were analyzed using primary data
collected from a sample of 120 farmers of Belgaum and Bagalkot districts in north
Karnataka. The Cobb-Douglas Production function, tabular approach and budgeting
technique and Garrett’s ranking technique were employed to analyze the data. Annual growth
rates estimated using exponential growth function w.r.t. mulberry area showed a decline both
in traditional (4.09%) and non-traditional (3.70%) districts. The annual decline in area was
significant at 3.38% for the state as a whole. There was also a decline in cocoon production
(1.17%/annum) in the state during the period. While, there was a significant increase in per
hectare productivity of cocoons for the state. The cost of cultivation of mulberry garden was
worked out to be Rs. 12699.82/acre/rearing. Cost of silkworm rearing per acre per rearing for
300 dfls was relatively more in Bagalkot (Rs. 34,539.49) over Belgaum (Rs. 32,498.13).
Net returns realized per acre per rearing and B:C ratio were more in case of Belgaum (Rs.
6432.96 and 1.19) when compared Bagalkot (Rs. 3900.83 and 1.11). Transportation cost was
a major cost in cocoon marketing in both districts accounted for 24.85% of the total
marketing cost of Rs. 1200.50/qunintal. The main constraints encountered by farmers
revealed through Garrett’s score in mulberry cultivation were shortage of irrigation water and
persistence of high temperatures that affected silk worm rearing during summer and high
market price fluctuations was another major constraint in the cocoon marketing. Farmers with
more than 2.00 acres farm size under mulberry having four crops per annum realized
maximum profits.