Pulwama, June 21: Many Silkworm rearers across South Kashmir have reported significant losses due to a disease that has drastically reduced cocoon production.
The disease has left many farmers, who rely on silk farming for their livelihood, in a state of distress.
Jalal u Din Ahmad, a seasoned silkworm rearer from Ladhoo village in Pulwama’s Pampore tehsil, has been in the industry for 15 years.
He reported encountering this disease for the first time, leading to a substantial loss in production.
“I used to get around 15 kilograms of cocoons per ounce of silkworms, but this time, I managed only around 4 kilograms,” Jalal said.
He suspects that infested mulberry leaves fed to the worms might be responsible and is eagerly awaiting a diagnosis from officials who have taken samples for testing.
Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a first-time rearer from Patalbagh village, shared a similar plight.
He said that out of three ounces of silkworms provided to two of them , only a few successfully formed cocoons.
“We followed all the guidelines, including spacious room arrangements and adequate heating, yet we faced significant losses,” Nazir said.
He mentioned that sericulture officials suggested overcrowding or hypothermia as potential causes.
Manzoor Ahmad from Shopian said that he noticed the disease in a previous hatch, which led to a substantial drop in production.
He is now anxiously awaiting a new batch of silkworms in hopes of recovery.
Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, Director of the Sericulture Development Department for Jammu and Kashmir, said that there is no disease in the silkworms right now.
He said that such occurrences are routine due to factors like cold weather or overcrowding.
He said that a technical committee, including experts from SKUAST-K and the Central Silk Board, has been formed to address the issue.
“We are providing necessary interventions, including sprays and guidance, to the affected farmers,” Bhat said.
The Sericulture Development Department has issued a detailed advisory for silkworm rearers, warning of potential disease outbreaks due to rising temperatures.
The advisory recommends avoiding overcrowding, feeding high-quality mulberry leaves, and avoiding contaminated or insecticide-sprayed leaves.
It also recommends picking diseased larvae for proper disposal and maintaining good ventilation to ensure healthy larval growth.
