The South Indian ruler who introduced sericulture as an agro-industry in his kingdom was

Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore (1782–1799), is credited with introducing sericulture as a commercial agro-industry in South India. While his father Hyder Ali had some early involvement with silkworm rearing, Tipu Sultan systematically promoted silk cultivation by importing mulberry plants and silkworm eggs from Bengal and other regions to establish a sustainable industry. He is recognized as a pioneer who integrated science and technology into the state's economy, encouraging farmers to adopt mulberry cultivation to boost trade and self-sufficiency. This initiative laid the foundation for Karnataka's current status as India's leading silk producer. Tipu's economic reforms also included the establishment of state-run trading depots and the promotion of other crops like sugarcane, reflecting his vision of a modernized, independent economy.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Estimate of Tipu Sultan > p. 99
2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Distribution > p. 25