Evaluation of factors influencing cocoon productivity in Jammu region

Abstract

Sericulture is an agro-based industry, which suits to rural-based farmers, entrepreneurs, and artisans and require low investment. It has high potential for higher returnsand play vital role in improvement of rural economy in India. The present investigation entitled Evaluation of factors influencing cocoon productivity in Jammu region was conducted in three districts of Jammu region viz., Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar wherein 225 silkworm rearers were interviewed to study various socio-economic parameters namely age, family size, caste, occupation, education, total land holding, area under mulberry, number of mulberry trees, experience, distance from sericulture office, cocoon market, transportation charges and annual income. Stepwise multiple regression of cocoon yield with socio-economic parameters revealed factors namely area under mulberry, distance from sericulture office, cocoon market and transportation charges were recorded highly significant and the major factors affecting the cocoon yield. Thesilkworm rearers who adopted recommended methods recorded better results for most of the rearing and reeling parameters viz., average weight of ten mature larva (44.56 g), larval survival (86.57%), single cocoon weight (1.55g), single shell weight (0.34g), shell ratio (21.29%), bed spacing (69.04 worms/sq.ft), filament length (856m), non-breakable filament length (761m), filament size (2.42) and cocoon yield(32.39 kg).Correlation studies showed that temperature was highly significant and positively correlated to incidence of grasserie (0.76**) and negatively correlated to cocoon yield (-0.53**) during autumn season in district Doda. Multiple regression analysis revealedthat quantity of silkworm seed reared, temperature, humidity, feeding frequency and fifth instar larval duration alone explained 70% (R2=0.70) and 73% (R2=0.73) of variation in cocoon yield(%) during spring and autumn rearing respectively in district Doda.Cocoon yield, cocoon rate, shell weight and shell ratio depicted around 87% (R2=0.87) and 77% of