During the visit, the Director reviewed in detail two major technological advancements currently under active development and field validation. The first is a Nano-Based Artificial Diet for Silkworm Rearing (Off-Season Technology), a nano-fortified artificial diet aimed at enabling off-season silkworm rearing. This innovation addresses one of the most critical constraints of temperate sericulture, namely the heavy dependence on seasonal availability of mulberry leaves. The second innovation reviewed was a Smart Sensor-Based Solar Incubator for Precision Silkworm Egg Incubation, designed to ensure controlled and uniform incubation under varying climatic conditions.

 

While sharing his insights on the occasion, Mr. Bhat highlighted the key features and benefits of these technological innovations. He stated that the nano-based artificial diet offers nano-enabled nutritional enhancement leading to improved feed efficiency and larval growth. The formulation is cost-effective and developed using locally adaptable ingredients, making it economically viable for field-level adoption. The technology supports off-season rearing, thereby reducing seasonal production gaps, enhancing larval health, survivability and uniformity and significantly reducing dependence on fresh mulberry leaves during periods of scarcity. He added that the innovation has the potential to stabilize cocoon production cycles and substantially increase the income of silkworm rearers.

 

Elaborating on the smart sensor-based solar incubator, Mr. Bhat noted that it is equipped with an intelligent control system that precisely regulates temperature, humidity, light and airflow. The solar-powered unit, with a battery backup of up to six hours, ensures uninterrupted operation even during power outages.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe system guarantees uniform hatching and improved egg viability, reduces manual intervention and human error and is equipped with a user-friendly interface for real-time monitoring and calibration.

 

Highlighting the overall impact potential of these technologies, the Director stated that they will play a crucial role in promoting climate-resilient silkworm rearing, enhancing hatching percentage and cocoon quality, reducing operational costs in grainages and supporting sustainable and renewable energy integration in the sericulture sector.

 

The visit of the Director, Sericulture J&K, was aimed at assessing the field-level progress of ongoing innovations, interacting with scientists and technical staff, reviewing the performance of silkworm batches reared on nano-based diets, evaluating the functional readiness of the smart incubation system and guiding future scaling-up, validation and technology transfer of these innovations.

 

While concluding his views, Mr. Bhat emphasized that these technologies represent a major step towards modernizing sericulture in Jammu and Kashmir by making it more technology-driven, climate-resilient and economically sustainable. He underlined that these initiatives are fully aligned with the broader objective of transforming the sericulture sector through innovation, renewable energy integration and scientific feeding strategies, thereby strengthening chawkie rearing systems and stabilizing cocoon production and productivity in the temperate region.

 

On the occasion, Mr. Bhat appreciated the scientists, field functionaries and other stakeholders for their concerted efforts in introducing advanced, state-of-the-art technologies to bolster silkworm seed production and silk cocoon production. He lauded their innovative and scientific approach towards ensuring abundant availability of mulberry foliage for silkworm rearers and farmers. The Director further expressed hope that these innovations will enable farmers to engage in sericulture activities round the year, significantly enhancing their income-generation capacity and acting as a catalyst for transforming their socio-economic conditions in a meaningful and sustainable manner. (KNS)