Srinagar, Mar 29: In a significant move to boost the sericulture industry in Jammu and Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director of Sericulture J&K, announced that the department is actively working on doubling silkworm seed production indigenously in the Union Territory.
During his visit to the Silkworm Seed Station Tarhama in Baramulla district, Bhat inspected the ongoing upgradation of the existing Silkworm Seed Unit and mulberry nurseries, as well as interacted with local farmers.
Emphasising the need for a proactive approach, Bhat stated, “Concerted efforts are needed to make J&K self-sufficient in silkworm seed production, for which the department will rope in silkworm rearers in doubling the seed production across the region.”
This initiative aligns with the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), aiming to make the Union Territory self-reliant in silkworm seed production.
The Seed Station Tarhama hosts a 110-kanal mulberry farm with 10,000 mulberry plants of dwarf and tall varieties. The harvested mulberry foliage is utilized for seed crop rearing and producing F1 silkworm seed for distribution among silkworm rearers in the Kashmir division and adjacent villages.
Moreover, the commercial seed production capacity of the station ranges from 1.0 lakh to 1.20 lakh Double Filial Layers (DFLs) by rearing 1,000 to 1,200 P1 DFLs.
During the review meeting with officers at the Seed Station, Bhat stressed the need to remove bottlenecks hampering technical operations and assured that the matter would be taken up with the authorities for streamlining operations.
Addressing the gathering, the Director urged silkworm rearers and farmers from adjacent villages to actively participate in silkworm seed production alongside their rearing activities to boost their income significantly.