Dir Sericulture inaugurates farmer skill training prog in Manasbal

Srinagar, Dec 18: A Farmer Skill Training (FST) programme was inaugurated today by Ajaz Ahamd Bhat, Director Sericulture J&K, in presence of Dr. N.K.Bhatia, Director Central Sericulture Research & Training Institute, CSB, Pampore, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Scientist –D & other faculty members of CSB at Manasbal.
The training is being organized by Central Silk Board at their P4 Basic Seed Farm in association with Sericulture Development Department. While addressing the gathering the Director Sericulture highlighted the need for regular skill up-gradation of rearers to take advantage of the latest technologies at grass root level in order to boost their confidence to increase the quality of Cocoon and its productivity at optimum level.
He also added in his address that concerted efforts are being made to give impetus to the sericulture and skill upgradations as a part of the capacity building programme for Silkworm Rearers.
He informed that SKUAST and other Institutes are also being approached for organizing Sericulture oriented training Programmes of the industry for Silkworm Rearers. He said that Sericulture department is giving focus on addressing critical areas for promotion of Jammu & Kashmir Silk Industry and there is need to fully train the stakeholders in this direction.
Director laid stress on resource utilizations and identifying the problems at ground level and called the farmers to fully interact with the Scientists during this training programme. More than 50 farmers of the District Ganderbal and Bandipora are participating in the said training.
The Director Sericulture further highlighted that there is also a need that all the Stakeholders of the industry including Silkworm Rearers should meet regularly and share their experiences to achieve desired results in achieving increased cocoon production and ensuring quality in their produce.
During the day long tour the Director also visited the Departmental Nurseries and farms in the District and enquired about the status of cocoon production and took stock vis-a-vis supply of Mulberry sapling to the farmers in the District for quality Cocoon productions.
He informed that at the time of any difficulty faced by the silkworm reares they can directly approach the District officers and Tehsil level officers. They can also visit technical section of the Directorate both at Jammu (Mob. 9419518139) and Srinagar (Mob. 9419004960) for any assistance related to Sericulture.
On this occasion a mulberry sapling of improved mulberry variety was planted by the Director in the CSB Institute.