Technology Modernization and Rural Livelihood Resilience: Institutional Transformation in Karnataka’s Sericulture Economy

Traditional agro-based industries play a critical role in sustaining rural livelihoods across developing economies, yet their long-term viability depends on successful modernization under conditions of climate and market uncertainty. This study examines the structural transformation of Karnataka’s sericulture sector as a model of technology-enabled rural industrial resilience. Using a secondary data analytical design, the research integrates production statistics, institutional mapping, and modernization indicators from 2022–2025 to evaluate how technological upgrading interacts with governance ecosystems to stabilize rural income systems. The findings reveal sustained growth in raw silk production, accelerated adoption of automatic reeling technologies, and the strengthening of institutional networks that support farmer participation. Rather than displacing labor, modernization has restructured rural employment toward higher productivity while preserving sectoral inclusivity. Despite increasing environmental pressures, the sericulture ecosystem demonstrates adaptive resilience through layered technological and institutional buffers. These dynamics indicate that modernization, when embedded within coordinated policy frameworks, can function as a livelihood stabilization strategy rather than a disruptive force. The study contributes to debates on sustainable rural industrialization by presenting sericulture as an adaptive agro-industrial system capable of technological evolution without social erosion. The Karnataka experience offers a replicable framework for strengthening traditional industries in developing regions facing climate and economic volatility.