Economics of marketing silkworm cocoons and marketing constraintsfaced by farmers in Kolar district of Karnataka

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Kolar district of Karnataka through a well-structured survey during2019-2020. The multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select taluk, villages, and farmers with a samplesize of 60 sericulture practicing farmers. The literates among the sample respondents were 88.33 per cent. In the study area,only one marketing channel was identified for marketing the cocoons, where the farmers sold directly to the wholesaler-cum-reelers in government cocoon markets in the auctions. The average marketing cost incurred by the cocoon producingfarmers was calculated per 100 Disease Free Layings (DFLs) which was found to be `726. Its magnitude was relativelyhigh in the case of marginal farmers (`875/100 DFLs). An appraisal on components of marketing costs revealed that theexpenditure on transportation (37.60 %) formed the most significant constituent of the total marketing cost. Since theproduce was sold directly in the government cocoon markets, the producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was 98.37 per centand there were relatively fewer constraints. Based on the opinion survey, the price volatility of cocoons was the majorconstraint (Garrett score 71.75). The other constraints include delayed payments, malpractices in markets, lack of sufficienttransportation and storage facilities.