A Profile of Personal and Socio-economic Characteristics of Sericulture Farmers in Malavalli Taluk, Mandya District, Karnataka
Abstract
Sericulture is an agrarian small-scale industry suited to marginal and small land holders, providing high returns and creating employment for family members. Studies indicate that the personal and socio-economic status of farmers significantly influences the adoption of improved sericulture practices. This study aimed to profile these characteristics among sericulture farmers in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, India. Data were collected from 50 farmers across seven villages using a structured interview schedule. Results revealed that the majority of respondents were of middle age (60%), possessed primary or high school education (32%), had small family sizes (66%), and cultivated mulberry on less than one acre of land (60%). A significant proportion showed low involvement in social organizations, though limited participation was noted in milk cooperatives and mahila mandals. Conversely, a majority participated in at least one extension activity such as meetings, field visits, and training programs. The findings provide a baseline for understanding the farmer community and tailoring inclusive extension strategies to enhance technology adoption and socio-economic resilience in sericulture.
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Introduction
India holds a unique position as the only country producing all four commercial types of silk: mulberry, tasar, eri, and muga. It is the world'ssecond-largest silk producer, with a total raw silk production of 41,121 MT. Mulberry silk alone accounts for 31,119 MT (75.67%) of this output (Anonymous, 2025). Sericulture is a vital sector for socio-economic development in rural areas. It is labour-intensive, profitable, requires low initial investment, and ensures frequent income, making it particularly suitable for rural women. With its agricultural base and industrial structure, sericulture serves as an excellent economic activity for farmers with marginal to medium landholdings in Karnataka, providing gainful employment, periodic income, and curbing rural-to-urban migration.
The socio-economic status of farmers is a well-established determinant of technology adoption. Studies have identified factors such as education, income, social participation, extension contact, and landholding as influential variables (Geetha et al., 2001). Sunildutt and Chole (2002) reported a positive relationship between adoption and factors like education and social participation, while age often shows a negative correlation. The impact of training is also notable; while trained and untrained Website: www.ijoear.com Journal DOI: 10.25125/agriculture-journal farmers may differ in economic status and experience, other factors like age and family size may show no significant difference (Thangaraju, 1979). Furthermore, cluster-based approaches have been shown to enhance socio-economic outcomes significantly (Syed Shakir Ali et al., 2014).
Despite its importance, localized and current profiles of sericulture farmers are essential for formulating effective development strategies. Most existing studies in the region are dated or focus on broader districts. A detailed micro-level profile is necessary to understand the present-day demographic and socio-economic context, which directly influences the pace of innovation adoption. This study, therefore, aimed to: (1) document the personal and socio-economic characteristics of sericulture farmers in Malavalli taluk, and (2) analyze their level of participation in social and extension activities. The findings are intended to inform targeted policy and extension interventions for sustainable sericulture development.
Conclusion
AND IMPLICATIONS This study profiles the sericulture farmers of Malavalli taluk as predominantly middle-aged, with basic education, small landholdings, and small family sizes. Their limited social capital, juxtaposed with moderate engagement in extension activities, presents a clear avenue for intervention.
The findings have direct implications for extension policy and practice: 1. Tailored Extension: Extension programs should be designed considering the average education level and age of farmers, emphasizing hands-on, visual, and practical demonstrations over text-heavy materials. 2. Focus on Smallholders: Research and development should prioritize space-and labour-efficient technologies that enhance productivity on small plots of land. 3. Promoting Collectives: There is a critical need to promote and revitalize farmer organizations, including sericulture clubs and cooperatives. These can serve as platforms for knowledge sharing, input procurement, and marketing, thereby enhancing social participation and economic bargaining power. 4. Engaging Youth: To ensure sustainability, schemes and training programs specifically targeting the younger rural population should be developed to attract them to sericulture.
In conclusion, while sericulture remains a vital livelihood in Malavalli, its future growth depends on strategically addressing the socio-economic constraints identified in this profile. A focused, farmer-centric approach integrating technology dissemination with institutional building is recommended.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.