Profitability of Mulberry cocoon production in West Bengal

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the profitability of mulberry cocoon production and to identify the reasons for marginalization of mulberry sericulture in West Bengal, India. Methods/Statistical analysis: The primary data pertaining to socio-economic status of farmers and costs & returns of mulberry cocoon production was collected from 240 respondents (Malda, Murshidabad & Birbhum) using pre-tested structured interview schedule following multi-stage purposive random sampling. The economics of mulberry cocoon production was worked out using budgeting technique. Findings: Mulberry cultivation in West Bengal was pronounced on marginal/small farms with average mulberry holding of 0.66 acre. Cost of production per kg of mulberry cocoon on marginal farms worked out to |283 and the profitability expressed in terms of the returns per rupee of expenditure was |1.47. Inadequate land holding and labour-intensive nature of mulberry cultivation are identified as major causes for marginalization of mulberry sericulture in West Bengal. Application/Improvements: The cost estimates will serve as the basis for policy-makers to intervene for the announcement of minimum support price in the event of price crash. Labour cost formed major chunk in the total cost of production of mulberry cocoon on marginal/small farms reelecting the scope for development of suitable implements & equipments for economizing mulberry sericulture. JEL classification: Q1 Keywords: Profitability; marginal farm; small farm; Mulberry sericulture; cocoon; budgeting technique

Comparative economics of vanya with mulberry cocoon production in India

“…The secondary data pertinent to costs and returns of Mulberry, Eri, Muga and Tasar cocoon production was collected from various reports/records of sericulture (Central Silk Board Annual Reports from 2015 to 2022 and CSB Seri-info Survey Report 2022b). The data was analyzed using complete budgeting technique with cost concepts (Subbareddy et al, 2022;Manjunatha et al, 2020a) and descriptive statistics (measure of central tendency and dispersions) for meaningful interpretations (Sahu, 2007). To compare the cocoon production enterprises in sericulture, Benefit : Cost (B:C) ratio indicator was also employed, as it reveals the returns per rupee investment on enterprise.…”

Weed Management in Mulberry (Morus alba): A Review

“…Manual weeding though it is effective but scarce labour and hike in labour wages makes it economically not viable for weed control in mulberry where it requires 457-500 mandays ha -1 year -1 (Manjunatha et al, 2020;Krishna et al, 2013 andDandin andGiridhar, 2000). Krishna et al (2013) also inferred that repeated manual weeding at 20, 40 and 60 days after pruning in mulberry found expensive than herbicidal treatments.…”