Baramulla March, 05 (KNS): Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS), the Director Sericulture J&K today undertook a comprehensive field visit to North Kashmir, Baramulla where he inspected developmental projects and inaugurated various Farmer Skill Development Programmes.
The visit aimed at evaluating the progress of the construction of Silkworm Crop Improvement Laboratory at Basic Seed Station Mirgund, monitor the progress of developmental works, preparations for ensuing silkworm rearing season and dissemination of awareness about the different schemes of the department among the Silkworm Rearers, Farmers and youth. Speaking on the occasion the Director Sericulture J&K highlighted the important role of Silkworm Crop Improvement Laboratory and urged the executive agency to complete its construction within the stipulated timeline. He also visited Mulberry Nurseries/Farms, Silkworm Seed Units, and the Office of Manager Seed, Sericulture Dev. Department, Basic Seed Station Mirgund and issued on spot instructions to the officers and other field functionaries of the department to work with dedication and ensure operational arrangements well in advance for the ensuing silkworm rearing season.
The Director Sericulture J&K continued his visit to District Baramulla, where he kick started an extensive mulberry plantation drive by planting a sapling at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla and on the occasion informed that the department aims to plant 20,000 Mulberry saplings in District Baramulla as part of its extensive mulberry plantation initiative. Besides, while signifying the importance of availability of healthy Mulberry Plants he told that the department is committed to provide disease free mulberry foliage in abundance to the Silkworm Rearers and also stressed that for sustaining the growth of Sericulture Sector it is imperative to conduct the mulberry plantation across J&K at large scale so that silkworm rearers will conduct rearing in a convenient manner and achieve double cocoon production to enable them to augment their income generation significantly. Besides, the Director Sericulture J&K inaugurated a 5-day Skill Development Training Programme at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla, as part of the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP) for the year 2023-24.
He informed trainees about the department's facilities, including financial assistance for rearing shed construction in a phased manner and incentives for Silkworm Rearers. The ongoing Skill Development Training programs aim to equip Silkworm Rearers, Farmers, and Youth with the latest sericulture practices to earn dignified subsistence and livelihood. Moreover, the Director Sericulture J&K while sharing his insights told that the department has also started various programmes by virtue of which the landless farmers, tribal people and collage going students are being sensitized and encouraged to take part in sericulture activities and acquaint themselves about different schemes to get all the benefits provided by the department. On the occasion, as a token of encouragement the Director Sericulture J&K felicitated silkworm rearers with tool kits.
The Director Sericulture J&K also informed that for establishment of Silk Reeling Units in J&K the department is providing 90% subsidy as government share for automatic Silk Reeling Units. Moreover, he emphasized that with the establishment of more reeling units the cocoons produced in J&K could be consumed locally at large scale which will not only boost the local economy but also work as a catalyst to generate employment opportunity in J&K.
In his closing remarks, the Director Sericulture J&K underscored the need that the field functionaries of the department are required to work in close synergy with silkworm rearing community and ensure that the ensuing silkworm rearing will be conducted in a disease free environment by distributing and administering the disinfectants effectively during upcoming rearing season so that the cocoon production in J&K will be doubled and the silkworm rearer is benefitted accordingly. He further informed that the department has put in place helpline facility in this regard to assist the silkworm rearers, farmers and youth to address their queries on priority. However, these helpline numbers have already been shared by the department through print, electronic and social media.
The Director Sericulture J&K was accompanied by the District Sericulture Officer, Baramulla, Manager Seed, Basic Seed Station Mirgund and many other field functionaries of the department.(KNS)