Ganderbal, Apr 28: In a significant step towards strengthening the Sericulture sector and addressing the challenges of inadequate rearing space faced by landless farmers, Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, IAS, Director Sericulture J&K, today inaugurated the construction of low-cost silkworm rearing huts in District Ganderbal. The initiative has been jointly organized by the Sericulture Development Department J&K and the College of Temperate Sericulture (CoTS), SKUAST-K, Mirgund, Baramulla.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhat reaffirmed the department’s commitment to augmenting infrastructure and providing state-of-the-art facilities to silkworm rearers, particularly focusing on landless farmers. He emphasized the department’s dedicated efforts towards empowering the farming community by creating better rearing conditions, thereby improving cocoon production and quality. Mr. Bhat urged farmers, youth, women folk, and silkworm rearers to actively connect with the department and avail benefits under various departmental schemes aimed at doubling cocoon production and enhancing livelihoods.
The inaugural event witnessed participation from officers of the College of Temperate Sericulture (CoTS), SKUAST-K, Mirgund, Sericulture Development Department and a large gathering of farmers, youth, and women from District Ganderbal.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. K. A. Sahaf, Associate Dean, CoTS, SKUAST-K, highlighted the close coordination between SKUAST and the Sericulture Department in strengthening the Sericulture sector across Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated SKUAST-K’s commitment to working collaboratively to propagate sericulture activities across the Union Territory, particularly in far-flung areas, focusing on unemployed youth, women, and landless farmers.
Mr. Zubair Ahmad Wasil District Development Manager, NABARD, while sharing his views, encouraged farmers, silkworm rearers, and women participants to avail themselves of available schemes and capacity-building programs proactively.
