Impact of Adoption of Mulberry and Silkworm Practice on Yield and Income of Bivoltine Hybrid Silkworm Rearing Sericulturists of South Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka

The study was conducted in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka state, to analyze the impact of adoption of bivoltine and multi × bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearing practices on cocoon yield and income of silkworm rearers. A sample of sixty bivoltine and multi × bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearing farmers were randomly selected from both the districts. The data was collected using a pre-tested interview schedule and the data was analyzed using suitable statistical tools. The results revealed that, more than two-fifth of the bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearers belonged to high (43.33%) adoption category whereas, more number of multi × bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearing 40.00 per cent of the rearers belonged to low adoption category with regard recommended mulberry cultivation practices. More than half of the bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearers belonged to high adoption category (53.33%) as compared to the multi × bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearing, greater proportion of the rearers belonged to low adoption (40.00%) category with regard to improved silkworm rearing practices. The mulberry leaf yield (23.50 tonnes/acre/ year) and cocoon yield (1494 kg/acre/year) of the bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearers were significantly found high with an average net income of Rs 3,20,397.00 per acre per year as compared to the mulberry leaf yield (20.50 tonnes/acre/year) and cocoon yield (1049 kg/acre/year) of multi × bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearers who are getting an average net income of Rs. 2,23,663.00 per acre per year.