Assessment of establishment cost economic returns and production constraints in sericulture in Nagpur district

The present investigation entitled “Assessment of Establishment cost Economic Returns And production constraints in sericulture In Nagpur District” was conducted during the year 2024-25. The study aimed to assess the economic feasibility of sericulture, including the costs of mulberry plantation and silkworm rearing, labour utilization patterns, and key production constraints. Data were collected from 40 farmers across five talukas of Nagpur district using a pre-tested interview schedule. The per hectare establishment cost of the mulberry garden was estimated at Rs. 70,257.61 under Cost ‘C’. The cost of establishing the rearing unit was Rs. 2,91,950, with an annual depreciation of Rs. 17,275.00. The total annual cost of mulberry cultivation per hectare amounted to Rs. 1,00,040.50 (Cost ‘C’), producing 23,727.32 kg of mulberry leaves. The gross income from mulberry leaves was Rs. 1,08,637.00, resulting in a net return of Rs. 8,596.50 and a benefit-cost ratio (B:C) of 1.08. Silkworm cocoon production incurred a total cost of Rs. 1,46,445.21, yielding a gross return of Rs. 3,38,537.99 and a net return of Rs. 1,92,092.78 per hectare. The B:C ratio for cocoon production was 2.31, indicating high profitability. Labour use was significant, requiring 233.08 labour days per hectare annually, of which family labour accounted for 46.97 per cent. major constraints reported by farmers included high initial costs for rearing unit establishment (70%), low cocoon yields during summer (62.5%), inadequate access to quality mulberry leaves, and shortage of skilled manpower. The study concluded that sericulture in the Nagpur district is a profitable and sustainable agro-based enterprise. It suggests the need for policy support through targeted subsidies, capacity building, and improved extension services to promote large-scale adoption, especially among small and marginal farmers.