Social Betterment and Economic Empowerment of Sericulture Farmers in Northern Hilly Zone of Karnataka, India

Sericulture, one of the important enterprises undertaken by farmers in North Karnataka, is an eco-friendly, agro-based, labour intensive, low input and commercially attractive farm enterprise falling under cottage and small-scale sector. Among the factors that contribute for successful cocoon production, socio- economic factors play a significant role in determining the knowledge and adoption levels of sericulture technologies for production of mulberry and cocoons especially in recently adapted areas of Uttar Kannada district. The present study was an ex-post facto questionnaire based research on socio-economic status of sericulture farmers was carried out during 2021-2022 Uttar Kannada district representing hilly zone of Karnataka state. A sample of 50 farmers was selected randomly from eleven villages in thesetaluks. The study revealed that half of the sericulture farmers belonged to middle age (31 to 50 years), as high as 60.00 % farmers had education up to 8th to 10thstandard, 46.00% of the family belonged to 5-8 members per family, and 38% hadlong experience in sericulture while 18-20% were relatively new (< 3 years) to the enterprise with pooradaption rate of the improved technologies and mechanisation (46.00%). Further, 40.00% of farmers fell under low and medium rearing category, 48% farmers belonged to medium brushing of disease free layings per crop (100-200 dfls /crop) and majority (64%)were getting the average yield (60-75 kg/100 dfls) with good management of the crop while 22.00% were getting more than 80kg/100dfls cocoon yield due to improved production techniques. Overall, 36-38 % farmers had medium cost of production, benefit per year and benefit: cost ratio (Rs.40000-45000, Rs.100,000-1,68,000 and Rs 1:3-4,respectively).