Business · India Bureau
Severe drought slashes mulberry production in Karnataka silk belt
Sericulture farmers across Karnataka's silk-growing regions are reporting a sharp decline in mulberry yields as prolonged dry conditions take their toll. The drought has created ideal breeding grounds for crop-damaging pests, compounding losses for the sector.
LSN India ·
Mulberry cultivation in Karnataka's renowned silk belt is facing significant headwinds as drought conditions grip the region, with farmers reporting production losses of approximately 50 percent. The dry spell has decimated the green vegetation that sustains silkworm feed crops, forcing producers to contend with severely reduced yields across their holdings.
Beyond the immediate impact of water scarcity, the drought has created secondary agricultural challenges that threaten to worsen the crisis. Reduced plant cover and moisture stress have triggered a proliferation of pest infestations, with thrips and spider mites now widespread across mulberry plantations. These crop-damaging insects thrive in dry conditions and have begun feeding extensively on stressed plants, further compromising foliage quality needed for sericulture.
The dual pressure of climate stress and pest outbreak poses a critical challenge for Karnataka's silk industry, which depends heavily on consistent mulberry supply. Farmers throughout the traditional silk-growing districts have raised concerns about the combined impact on their livelihoods, signaling potential disruptions to regional silk production in coming months unless weather conditions improve.