Baramulla,June 20:District Sericulture Officer Baramulla, G N Mir said that about 52.100 MTs of silk cocoons were produced by the silk worm rearers in the year 2018-19 for which they have generated a revenue of Rs 122.27 lakh.
Elaborating the details, DSO said that the district is having 7 nurseries spread over 577 kanals with annual out turn of 58000 plants for distribution in the field. He also said that in district Baramulla, there are 17 Mulberry blocks spread over an area of 676 kanals with 76500 Mulberry plants existing serve as leaf reservoir for silkworm rearing families. He further added that about 1300 families in the district are directly associated with this sector who are earning their sustainable livelihood.
Moreover, DSO said that department is supplying chemicals like Vijetha, Bleaching Powder, Lime and Sanitech free of coast to the farmers for disease control. He informed that the department is also facilitating cocoon auction market at district headquarters where buyers from state and outside participate.
G N Mir said that, various schemes and programmes including Providing of Rearing Appliances, Assistance for construction of Rearing Houses are spearheaded by the department which are meant for the overall assistance and welfare of rearers. He said that district is endowed with huge potential owing to favourable climate and topography and urged upon the unemployed youth to adopt the sector for their livelihood.
Taking an overview of sericulture, G N Mir said that it is an agro based industry which is an important activity of rural population and is practiced as a subsidiary occupation. He also said that it is an oldest traditional industry of the state and has contributed a lot in the economic strengthening of the people. The state is famous for the production of Bivoltine silk due to its favourable climatic conditions.
