With an aim to inculcate know-how of latest practices in the field of Sericulture among farmers, a day-long ReshamKrishi Mela was Wednesday organized at Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute (CSR&TI), here.
Inaugurating the mela, Secretary, Agriculture Production,Manzoor Ahmad Lone, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that suchprogrammes were of great significance and help in generating awareness amongthe farmers.
He said around 27,000 people were involved with Sericulturepractices in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Sericulture, being a ruralagro-based industry, having employment potential, needs to be strengthened andvarious steps were afoot.
He said various schemes will be formulated for improvingsocio-economic conditions of the farmers so that their overall income and silkproduction gets increased.
Secretary, Central Silk Board, Union Ministry of Textiles,Bangaluru, RajitRanjanOkhandiar, who was the guest of honour, extended fullsupport on behalf of the Board for upliftment of the sericulture sector inJ&K.
Okhandiar highlighted the steps being taken by the Ministryfor development of the industry. He said the Board was leaving no stoneunturned to increase the production of cocoon yield, thus increasing the incomeof people associated with this trade.
Director, Sericulture Development Department, J&K,Manzoor Ahmad Qadri gave a brief account of the works being carried out by thedepartment for the development of the Sericulture sector.
Director, Central Sericulture Research and TrainingInstitute (CSR&TI), Pampore highlighted the scientific research beingcarried out by the Institute.
Joint Director, Horticulture Department, Mohalli, Punjab,Gulab Singh Gill; District Sericulture Officers; officers concerned and numberof farmers from various districts attended the Mela.
On the occasion, farmers interacted with the Sericultureauthorities and informed them about the issues and problems faced by themincluding lack of proper infrastructure, transportation and marketing which, ifresolved, can help the farmers in generation of better income. The authoritiesassured to look into the matter and resolve their issues at an earliest.
On the occasion, two booklets ‘Handbook on post cocoontechnology’ and ‘Sericulture technology’, in Hindi were released, to generatefurther awareness about Sericulture practices.