Budgam: An awareness camp about various centrally and state sponsored schemes was held at district headquarter, Sheikhpora Budgam which was attended by a large number of farmers associated with sericulture in the district. District Development Commissioner, Mr. Khursheed Ahmad Shah inaugurated the camp by kicking off mulberry plantation drive. A target of planting 38,000 mulberry saplings has been set by the department. Giving details on the occasion, Deputy Director Sericulture said that in 2012-13, 14000 kg of cocoon were reared, generating an income of Rs. 22 lakh besides 407 families areengaged with sericulture across 66 villages in the district like Kanihama, Roshanabad, Churmujroo, Tal The District Development Commissioner distributed cheques among 38 beneficiaries to construct cocoon rearing sheds who have also been provided rearing kits each costing Rs. 20,000. Under new and unique scheme of insuring female cocoon rearers, 53 females have been insured as the rearing is generally done in the residential houses and practised by whole family.
A few farmers shared their experiences integrated farming and rearers, livestock and silkworm along with practising agriculture and horticulture.
Additional Director informed that there is a huge scope for silk production in Budgam due to availability of denuded forest lands, large chunk of waste lands and irrigation banks on which mulberry plants can be planted.
He stressed on participation of unemployed youth in various cocoon rearing programmes for which the department is providing high incentives including 90 percent subsidy on machinery cost and bonus on silk production as well. |
