Rs 7.12 cr earned in cocoon rearing in JK this year

Jammu, Jan 30 (PTI) At a time when sericulture isemerging as an important income generating sector in Jammu andKashmir, the state has earned a revenue of Rs 7.12 crores fromrearing 5,065 metric tonnes of cocoons this year, a stateMinister said.

The earnings in 2010-11 were more than the Rs 2.90 croresthat were made from producing 4,084 Mt of cocoons in 2008-09,Minister for Agriculture Gulam Hassan Mir said, adding thatnew cropping measures had yielded good outcomes.

"The multiple cropping was this year successfullyintroduced in the province, which shows positive results," hesaid at the provincial review meeting of the department here.

The Minister was also informed of the average price rateremaining at Rs 410 per kg this year.

While stressing on the need for increasing the number ofrearers across the state by spreading awareness, Mir said thatsericulture was an important sector that generated income andone which presents succour to the poor within the least time.

There is vast potential in this heritage sector and thedistrict heads should utilise all resources to motivate peopleto opt it as an economic activity, he said.

Rearing demonstration activity in every area should beundertaken for engaging interest and increasing rearers, headded.

Every year lakhs of mulberry saplings are being plantedto cover more and more area under Sericulture extensionprogramme, which increases leafage production in the state, hesaid.

"So the cocoon production should also increase with thesame pace," he said on the cash crop, adding that the Mulberryfarms be utilised for contract rearing that would betterleafage utilisation and uplift the economy of the respectiveareas.

The minister also directed to send more progressiverearers on departmental tours outside the state to equip themwith latest technical knowledge which is at par with globalstandards.

"We have also thrust to produce local quality diseasefree seeds to cater to the needs of desiring rearers of thestate to increase production," he said.