VANI, NRESHMA CHANDAN, SHAIK2018-08-092018-08-092017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810063813D5476The present study entitled “Economics of Sericulture and Processing of Cocoons in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh” was undertaken to study the cost of cultivation of mulberry leaf production and cocoon production, study marketing aspects and processing of cocoons, problems encountered by the sericulture industry and price behavior of cocoons. The study covered 2 mandals and 4 villages with 60 farmers growing mulberry. The sample farmers were stratified into marginal (up to 1 hectare) and small (up to 2.5 hectares). The data pertained to agricultural year 2014- 15 were collected through survey method with the help of pretested schedules. Conventional method was used to analyse the data and to arrive at valid conclusions. The per hectare cost of establishment of mulberry garden on marginal, small and pooled farms were worked out to Rs. 77,734.85, Rs. 76,900.63 and Rs.77,112.12 respectively and thus exhibiting inversed relationship with the size of the farm. The per hectare cost of maintenance of mulberry garden on marginal small and pooled farms were worked out to Rs. 1,08,885.2, Rs. 1,05,747.18 xiv and Rs 1,07,015.5 respectively and thus exhibiting relationship with the size of the farm. The cost of production per kg of mulberry was Rs. 1.50, Rs. 1.49 and Rs. 1.50 on marginal, small and pooled farms the gross and net income was Rs.1,22,097.30 and Rs. 13,212.10 on marginal farms, Rs. 1,18,828.79 and Rs. 13,081.61 on small, Rs. 1,20,233,.99 and Rs. 13,219.45 on pooled farms. The total cost of cocoon production was Rs. 3,54,444.8, Rs. 3,38,517.66 and Rs. 3,46,225.58 on marginal, small and pooled farms. The gross income from cocoon production was higher on marginal farms (Rs. 7,65,866.12) than small and pooled farms (Rs. 7,59,424.68 and Rs 7,62,646.64). In the marketing of cocoons, single channel was identified. That is farmer → market → reeler → twister → weaver → dyer → weaver → consumer. The cost of production of yarn per kg per year worked out to Rs. 89,54,984.42. The analysis of marketing costs and margins revealed that the weaver was getting higher share of consumer’s rupee. The raw silk obtained was 4,596.58 kg along with the 1,544.4 kg of jute and 2,246.4 kg of water jelly as byproducts per unit per year. The total gross income was Rs. 1,81,61,548 and net income was Rs. 92,06,563.58 per unit per year. The gross ratio and B-C ratio was 2.02 and 1.02 respectively. Total 26,450 silk cocoons was reeled to produce 4,396.58 kgs of yarn, renditta to produce 1 kg of yarn was 6.66. The results revealed that there was an increasing trend in the prices of cocoon in the selected market. Seasonal variations in prices were observed in the selected market and the highest seasonal index was found in the month of may (92.25). The results of cyclical variations of cocoon prices in the Dharmavaram market indicated that no price cycles. Irregular variation did not exhibit any definite periodicity in their occurrence in prices of cocoon in the selected market.en-USnullThesis