Srinagar, Sep 7: Agriculture Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir today said that with the “collective efforts” of employees of Sericulture department and cocoon rearers, the quality of cocoon has improved in the state considerably.
 He stressed upon the stakeholders to continue their efforts in future to make J&K hub of quality cocoon production in the country.
 The Minister said this during a cocoon auction function at Aloocha Bagh here today. MLA, Bandipora, Nizam-ud-din Bhat was also present on the occasion.
 Mir said that the present coalition Government has given major thrust to produce quality cocoon for which numerous steps have been taken to provide the rearers technical assistance to improve quality and boost production.
 He said the department has to take more concrete steps to reach out the rearers in far off areas with improved technical inputs.
 The Minister said that before taking over charge of the Agriculture Ministry, the average rate of cocoon was Rs 200 per kg, which has now reached to Rs 450 per kg.
 He said the quality cocoon sells like hot cakes during the auction, adding in today’s auction the highest rate of Rs 640 per kg of quality cocoon was recorded.
 He asked the rearers to use innovative technology in rearing of cocoons to further improve the quality, assuring that the department would provide all possible assistance for the same.  He said production has also increased manifold and the department is expecting to record 3.20 lakh kgs this year against 2.08 lakh kgs last year.
 Mir directed Director, Sericulture to provide hot dryer training to the rearers en masse to make them use hot dryer techniques for drying the cocoons which would help improve their quality.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST