Silk Cocoon Production in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu: A Profitability Analysis

Sericulture is a financially viable production and has enormous potential for employment opportunities. The present study attempted to investigate the profitability of the sericulture business in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. A proportionate random sampling approach was used to select 80 sample sericulture farmers. The results revealed that the total cost of producing silk cocoons was.98,805.1, with a net profit of. 1,17,194.84. The benefit-cost ratio and break-even output estimated were 2.19:1 and 140.72 kg of the silk cocoon. It depicted that the farmers were operating in the profit zone, as the average yield of sample farmers was substantially higher. Labour scarcity, pest and disease incidence, and income loss owing to COVID-19 pandemic were major constraints faced by sericulture farmers. Sericulture enterprise provided immense opportunity by means of profitable income and more employment opportunities. The young unemployed rural entrepreneurs and women SHGs of this region if appropriately trained and provided financial support to initiate this enterprise would lead to the development of the silk cluster and indeed top position in the Indian silk industry.