As a part of its initiatives to provide technical support to the Silkworm rearers, Director Sericulture Development Department, Gulzar Ahmad Shabnum today distributed disinfection spray pumps among 50 farmers here at Dangara.The pumps were provided to the registered Silkworm rearers of the District under Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) with financial assistance under “Silk Samagra” a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.Speaking on the occasion, the Director Sericulture said that the department’s endeavour is to facilitate the farmers to carry out silkworm rearing on modern and scientific lines to fetch better returns. “The Department of Sericulture is providing financial assistance to them for planting Mulberry trees, Construction of rearing houses, purchase of rearing appliances, besides disinfectants, Vermicompost, subsidized seeds and marketing facilities” the director said. He said that under “Silk Samagra” special focus is being laid on to Scheduled caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Silkworm rearers, by proving them full assistance. He said that 140 beneficiaries belonging to SC category have been covered under the “SCSP” Scheme in district Kathua including 31 women rearers.
Under the Scheme, 54 Rearing houses are being constructed at unit cost of Rs 1.25 lakh per house.He asked the beneficiaries to make best use of the schemes under implementation by the Sericulture Department for their socio-economic transformations and to improve and increase the Cocoon production. He asked the field functionaries of the Department to reach out to therearers during pre and post cocoon activities and identify more people willing to venture into silkworm rearing. He also interacted with the beneficiaries and sought feedback from them about the implementation of the Schemes.Rolling out allied initiatives, the Director said that the Department is going to organize series of exposure tours for the rearers to Karnataka and other States to familiarize them with the advanced package practices adopted in sericulture activities there and exchange experiences with their counterparts, besides visiting Cocoon markets and Sericulture Research Institutes.District Sericulture Officer, Kathua, Anju Koul also spoke on the occasion and elaborated on various components of the Schemes aiming at benefitting the Scheduled Caste Silkworm rearers of the District.