Jammu, Apr 18: Government has formulated a comprehensive policy to revive the heritage Silk industry on modern lines having greater scope to provide employability to job seekers.
 This, according to an official statement, was said by Minister for Agriculture,   Ghulam Hassan Mir while addressing Silk Worm rears at Old Khoon and Dangara of Billawar tehsil during his day long visit today.
 Saying that Silk Industry was fetching a major chunk of population not long ago,   Mir said that latest technology is to be infused in this sector to achieve the desired target. He said that the industry would fetch more in short period, if latest technical knowhow is used by growers and added that incentives would also be given to the progressive growers by way of quality seeds, construction of rearing units etc. He said that under the setting up of rearing units’ scheme, Government is providing Rs 50 thousand non refundable grant to the Cocoon rears to encourage them. He said that already health insurance scheme for women cocoon rearers was launched last year for the benefit of growers and added that steps are in a pipeline to enhance it.
   Mir said that J&K has feasible atmosphere for double cropping which in turn helps cocoon rears to earn more and steps are being taken to plant more and more mulberry trees on State land to increase the leaf production for cocoon rears to boost its production.
 At Dangara, the Minister inaugurated Hot Air Drying machine for the cocoons and this type of cocoon drying fetches better price to the cocoon growers in the market instead of those dried through sunlight. He was informed that about 20 such machines have been purchased during last fiscal in Jammu division.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST