Is Small-Scale Mulberry Silk-Worm Rearing Profitable? The Experience of Cocoon Growers of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The sustainability of the Mulberry silk-worm rearing, an important sub-stage of sericulture, depends upon whether or not cocoon growers earn profit from this practice. The present study focuses on small-scale cocoon growers/mulberry silk-worm rearers to find out the extent of profit or losses of these growers. The answer to this question takes care of the issue of sustainability of small-scale silk-worm rearing practice. The study is based on primary data collected from 60 randomly selected households from Ghumarwin block of district Bilaspur or Himachal Pradesh (HP). Small-scale sample cocoon growers are incurring losses when imputed value of family labour is included in the total cost. Returns over total cost excluding family labour is positive which reveals that practice or small-scale mulberry silk-worm rearing is sustainable when the households are willing to put their own labour.