DAVANGERE: Sericulture is steadily picking up in Davangere district. The area under mulberry cultivation, which was 250 hectares last year, has increased to 320 hectares this year.

More farmers are taking to sericulture as it has helped supplement their income.

Cocoon production has also increased to 55 tonnes from 45 tonnes recorded last year.

Vast tracts of lands have been brought under mulberry cultivation at Anaberu, Donnehalli, Hosakere and Lingadahalli villages in Jagalur taluk; Tholahunese and Turchigatta in Davangere taluk; and Goverahalli in Harpanhalli taluk.

Also, many farmers in Chennagiri, Honnali and Harihar taluks have approached the Sericulture Department seeking assistance to take up sericulture.

Most of the land in Davangere is irrigated by the Bhadra project, as a result of which farmers prefer to cultivate paddy and sugarcane.

Also, mulberry cultivation stipulates minimum use of chemicals, which had prompted farmers not to take up sericulture all these years.

Land holdings in Davangere exceed the average figures and even small and marginal farmers own four to five acres of land. Above all, mulberry cultivation demands personal attention, which made it a difficult task to rear cocoons.

The government mini silk filature at Tholahunese is buying cocoons produced by farmers in the district, thus providing them a market.

It buys 4,000 kg of cocoons a month at a cost of Rs. 140 a kg. Only a few farmers take their produce to Bangalore or Ramanagaram for better prices.

A.M. Siddaiah, Deputy Director of Sericulture, told The Hindu that rearing cocoons has become a profitable venture, and the department has taken steps to promote sericulture in the district. Apart from holding workshops and training classes to impart technical guidance to farmers, the department, under the Catalytic Development Programme, is giving subsidy to farmers to establish mulberry nursery and rearing houses.

Apart from this, bed disinfectant and disinfectants are being sold at a nominal rate to sericulturists.

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