J&K eyes 1,350 MT cocoon production amid sericulture revival, says Director Sericulture Aijaz Ahmad Bhat

Says department strengthening farmer support, infrastructure and youth-oriented initiatives to boost sector

Jahangir Lolabi

Srinagar, Jun 02: The Sericulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir is recording steady growth in cocoon production, with authorities aiming to raise output to 1,350 metric tonnes in the coming years as part of broader efforts to revive the traditional silk sector.

Director Sericulture J&K, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, talking to Alfaaz – The Words, said the department has undertaken several farmer-oriented initiatives to strengthen sericulture and expand livelihood opportunities across the Union Territory.

He said cocoon production has increased from 699 metric tonnes during 2022-23 to 822 metric tonnes, reflecting renewed interest in the sector and the impact of government-backed interventions.

Bhat said the department provides extensive support to silkworm rearers, including rearing sheds, equipment, mulberry plants, leaves, silkworm seed, training, and technical guidance free of cost. He added that the department also facilitates the marketing of cocoons through government-supported platforms to ensure access to buyers and stable markets.

“Unlike many other sectors, sericulture farmers are generally not burdened with bank loans as most of the required support is being extended directly by the department,” he said.

The Director said the department has expanded its infrastructure network by strengthening Chawki Rearing Centres (CRCs), incubation centres, grainages, and cocoon marketing facilities. New grainages have also been established in both Srinagar and Jammu divisions, while thousands of rearing sheds have been provided to farmers in recent years.

He said the department is currently implementing the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and Silk Samagra-II schemes to modernise the sector. Several proposals have also been submitted under the proposed National Fibre Mission for enhanced infrastructure support, including rearing houses and CRCs.

Bhat urged farmers to maintain proper hygiene and disease management practices in rearing units to improve cocoon quality and profitability. He said high-quality cocoons can fetch between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,600 per kilogram, while poor-quality produce may sell for nearly Rs 500 per kilogram.

The department, he said, is also organising free training programmes and exposure visits to sericulture centres in Bengaluru, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh to help farmers adopt modern practices.

Calling upon unemployed youth to explore sericulture as a source of self-employment, Bhat said the department is providing subsidies, technical guidance, silkworm seed, mulberry plants, and other incentives to encourage entrepreneurship in the sector.

He further said that additional automatic reeling units, twisting machines, and a digital textile printing machine have been approved to strengthen the silk value chain and promote local processing within Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our objective is to revive the historic glory of Kashmir silk and make sericulture a strong source of employment and economic growth,” Bhat said.