![A worker sorts trays containing raw silk extracted from silk-worm cocoons in Srinagar. [Representational Image]](https://gumlet.assettype.com/greaterkashmir%2F2022-08%2Faa0926f1-07f3-42c0-8412-c138a2439789%2FIMG_20220805_093230.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Srinagar: J&K Government is working on a multipronged strategy for the revival and holistic development of the Sericulture sector across Jammu and Kashmir.
The futuristic roadmap for holistic growth of agriculture and allied sectors will help in ensuring product quality as well as quantity with boost in global demand.
J&K government is working on area expansion under mulberry plantations to increase leaf availability for rearers. The Forest Department and Sericulture Department are working jointly for achieving J&K’s green mission and creating avenues of market infrastructures to provide a platform and facilitate the cocoon growers in selling their produce in their vicinity.
Recently at an event, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha urged all those who are associated with silk industry to come out of the past and look for the future. “Our prime objective is to make the lives of farmers associated with this dream fabric better and to ensure uniqueness, beauty and ingenuity, which are the hallmark of J&K’s crafts, dominate the global market,” the LG said.
Sinha said that under the guidance of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the Government endeavours to provide training, technology inputs, IT tools and other infrastructure support required for the transformation of sericulture.
The Government is taking various measures for making this sector viable. There is need to safeguard skills handed down from generation to generation and make this sector financially more attractive.
The Government is giving importance to adoption of latest technological advancements in the silk to reduce the dependence on imported silk. One of the three important centres in the country for Research and Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and IT Intervention has been set up at Kashmir’s Pampore.
Notably, the Silk Samagra Yojana launched in 2017-18 under the guidance of the PM has proved to be a game-changer in making sericulture sustainable by supporting the country’s as well as J&K’s silk industry in an integrated manner.
Jammu and Kashmir administration has increased the revolving fund from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 3.50 crore. In Silk Samagra Phase-I, about 900 silkworm rearers directly benefited and about 618 rearing houses were also established.
Central Silk Board has allocated Rs 35 crore for J&K under Silk Samagra Phase-II benefitting around 27,000 families involved in sericulture across the UT.
