Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, today inaugurated Model Cold Storage Plant at Kud.Member Legislative Assembly, Chenani Mr. Dina Nath Bhagat, Director Sericulture Dr. Malik Farooq, Additional Director Sericulture Jammu and other officers of Agriculture, Central Silk Board, Sericulture departments and a good number of farmers were present on the occasion.The Plant, constructed with a cost of Rs.1.06 crore under Catalytic Development Programme jointly by Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, and Sericulture Development Department, has the capacity for consignment of more than 10,000 ounces of silkworm seed with modern and automatic facilities to maintain temperature and humidity inside the chambers.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that establishment of Cold Storage Plant was a long pending demand of the silkworm rearers (Krimkash) of district Udhampur which has been fulfilled by the present dispensation. He said the facility has been created to consign and preserve the silkworm seed during winters and subsequent distribution among the rearers during the rearing season.
Hanjura directed the concerned officers to conduct survey of barren land so that plantation of mulberry plants could be taken up in the ensuing plantation season. He also asked the farmers to plant more and more mulberry trees in their locations as this will give them twin benefit by way of greenery in their vicinity besides increasing their income.Responding to demands of construction of Water Harvesting Tanks, establishment of Mandi and construction of protection bunds, the Minister assured the farmers that these would be given due consideration.Bhagat, while interacting with the Management of the Sericulture department, called for rejuvenation of this sector by introducing new initiatives including adoption of latest technology so that the sector will again attract farmers.Earlier, the Minister alongwith Minister of State for Finance Pawan Gupta and MLA inaugurated Cocoon Auction Market Complex at Cherry, Udhampur.