Multivoltine seed cocoon production in eastern dry zone: An economic analysis Khan Murtuza, Somashekar H., Sadatulla Fatima, Naik Golya Department of Agricultural, Economics Sericulture College, Chintamani-563 125, Karnataka, India Online published on 19 March, 2018. Abstract The study on an economic analysis of multivoltine seed cocoon (pure Mysore) production in eastern dry zone of Karnataka revealed that the variable cost was Rs. 103081.13, accounting 85.70% of the total cost. The gross return was Rs.186845.00 of which a net return was Rs. 66562.87 per acre per year. To get these net returns, a quantity of 20800.00 kg of mulberry leaf was used alongwith human labour 450.89 man days and 1231.33 dfls. Further, the farmers rearing multivoltine seed cocoons in less than one acre of mulberry gardens incurred high cost of Rs. 130259.65 and rearers with more than one acre of mulberry garden incurred Rs. 120567.17 diseconomies of scale to get a net return of Rs. 77763.24 and 44833.29, respectively, indicating the higher net returns in small size farms. Study revealed that four seed cocoon crop rearings per year were uneconomical and five seed cocoon crop rearings were economical. However, if the government brings about the price fixation based on quality of seed cocoons rather than fixing the price based on number of cocoons per kilogram of weight it can increase the return and act as substitute for Chinese silk, while enhancing the quality of silk production having tremendous demand in the domestic market. Top Keywords Cocoon price, Cost: benefit ratio, Enterprise, Multivoltine, Policy implications. Top |