Productivity and Profitability in Rainfed Sericulture – A Study in the District of Chamaraja Nagar in Karnataka

The resources-use pattern and profitability of dry land sericultural operations have been analyzed. The study has been conducted with the information collected by interview method from randomly selected 67 rainfed-sericulture farmers in the Chamaraja Nagar district of Karnataka. It has been revealed that the cash inputs such as chemical fertilizers and disinfectant chemicals are used less than the recommended quantities, whereas labour is used in excess. The production function analysis has indicated that bullock power, human labour, quantum of feed and disinfectants are the important inputs which significantly influence cocoon production. As regards the allocative efficiency of resource-use, bullock power is being used efficiently. Leaf, fertilizer and disinfectants are used at sub-optimal levels. The labour is being used in an uneconomical manner. It has been suggested that intensified extension efforts would bear fruitful results in popularizing the improved rainfed sericulture practices