Pulwama, March, 21: On the eve of Navroz, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat , Director Sericulture today visited Pulwama to kick start Mulberry plantation drive in Kashmir Division from District Pulwama by planting a Mulberry Sapling in Mulberry Nursery at Nikas, Pulwama.
Speaking on the occasion the Director Sericulture J&K conveyed that more than 1.50 lac standard size Mulberry Saplings shall be distributed free of cost among the farmers of Kashmir Division.
He also informed that the department is providing 150 to 300 Mulberry plants with incentives to every interested farmer in order to establish their own Mulberry Farms. The
Director Sericulture J&K while addressing the gathering of Farmers assured full support of the Department and reiterated his commitment for extending all the facilities to them which include Rearing Kits, Disinfectants and financial assistance for construction of rearing sheds in a phased manner for hassle free Silkworm Rearing.
Moreover, while giving account of the other schemes of the department he said that for establishing a reeling unit the department provides 90% subsidy to the interested parties.
The Director emphasized that the unemployed youth and farmers should come forward and avail all the facilities being provided by the Department to earn dignified livelihood. He also informed that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has brought the Sericulture Development Department under the ambit of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) which will go a long way to boost the Sericulture Industry and will significantly generate employment in J&K.
The Director Sericulture informed that for any query people can contact the nearest Sericulture Assistant (Zone) or District Sericulture Officer or Directorate of Sericulture.
He during his address exhorted upon the field functionaries of the Department to provide every assistance to the silkworm rearers so that they shall undertake sericulture practices without any difficulty in order to boost their cocoon production and shall also fetch reasonably good earnings of their produce.