Srinagar December 21 (KNS): Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS), Director Sericulture Dev. Department, J&K Conducts Comprehensive Field Visit to Anantnag District to take stock of the ongoing developmental Works & other departmental activities in District Anantnag.
Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS), Director of the Sericulture Dev. Department, J&K, today conducted an extensive field visit to various Mulberry Farms, Blocks, Nurseries, Seed Stations Achabal, and offices in District Anantnag. The primary objective of visit of the Director Sericulture J&K was to closely monitor and assess the ongoing developmental works and functioning of the Department in District Anantnag. The Director Sericulture also inspected the newly constructed office building of the District Sericulture Office at Sarnal, Anantnag. On the occasion the Director Sericulture emphasized upon the officers of J&K Sericulture Dev. Department to exert concerted efforts for achieving developmental targets and book expenditure by or before 25 March, 2024. The District Sericulture Officers were also directed to promptly inspect ongoing developmental projects executed by engineering wings in Jammu and Kashmir. The Director expressed his happiness that adequate funds are being provided by the Government to the Sericulture Dev. Department for completing all the Projects and bringing the Department under the ambit of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
During the visit, Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat had a detailed interaction with departmental employees and exhorted upon them to work on mission mode to conduct extensive mulberry plantation for supplementing leaf reserves and ensure all assistance including technical guidance to the Cocoon Growers so that they are benefitted to a large extent by way of increased cocoon production and income generation. The Director Sericulture also assured that Cocoon Auction Markets will also be conducted on time and the preparation in this regard will be anticipated by the Department in due course of time.
The Director, Sericulture while visiting Seed Station Achabal, he underscored the crucial role of the Seed Sector in Sericulture and emphasized the need to increase the Seed production capacity of the Seed Stations for the self-sufficiency of the department. Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS) informed that infrastructure upgrades, particularly at the Seed Station Achabal, are underway to modernize and enhance seed-related facilities.
The Director underscores the need for capacity building of Silkworm Rearers and sharing technical guidance by the field functionaries with them. Besides, the silkworm rearers need to be acquainted with the latest sericulture practices and techniques with respect to disease prevention and for enhanced cocoon production so that the income of rearers will be augmented significantly.
Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS) Director Sericulture Dev. Department J&K while speaking on the occasion expressed that the Departmental DPCs shall be conducted in due course of time after evaluating the performance of employees as per the guidelines of the Government issued from time to time and the promotion prospects of the deserving employees will be safeguarded. Besides, no stagnation will be allowed to deter the future of employees of Sericulture under his leadership.
The Director Sericulture Dev. Department J&K while sharing his views emphasized that the department under his leadership will also work to establish more reeling and weaving units across J&K so that the cocoon produced in the region could also be consumed locally for which more people especially youth should come forward and derive the benefits of all schemes available with the Department. He also highlighted the potential of this cash crop for income generation of farmers as the silkworm rearing is completed within a short period and does not require more space as is the case with other crops grown in the region.(KNS)