Jammu, Dec 31: Minister for Agriculture and Sericulture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today stressed the need for utilization of locally produced silk cocoon in the state, which he said will help silk production in a big way besides genera ting employment in the state.
 The minister, according to an official statement, was chairing a meeting here this morning, held to review the status of silk production in the State, which was also attended by Director Handlooms, Director Sericulture, Managing Director Handloom Development Corporation and other officers of Sericulture and Handloom departments.
 Mir said that there is vast potential for development of Sericulture in J&K, as more than 800 MT of silk cocoon is being produced in the state annually by which the farmers earn more than Rs 8 crore.
 The Minister said that silk cocoon should be used within the State for its value added products for which he directed the State Handloom Department and Corporation to extend complete support to the weavers.
   Mir directed the concerned authorities for holding seminars, workshops etc for making people aware about various schemes for establishment of their own income generating units. He also advised for holding silk weaving training camps in Kashmir as well as in Jammu so that the weavers could flourish their hard work in this vital sector.
 The Director Sericulture apprised the meeting that the Department has a number of schemes in this sector which can be close tailed with handloom and silk power-loom sectors to make it a profitable activity.
 The Director Handloom also explained various schemes under SSI sector, besides informing the entrepreneurs of the State about the initiatives by the Government for promotion of handloom and sericulture sectors.
 Earlier, the Minister convened a meeting of the officers of Power Development Department and discussed measures for further improvement of power supply in Tangmarg Constituency.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST