Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today said that a comprehensive mega cluster project for cocoon growers of Rajouri district has been formulated and submitted to Central silk Board for financial support.He informed this during an interaction with the Sericulture Farmers of Lambadi Sunderbani and Nowshera areas of district Rajouri on the concluding day of his three day visit to Rajouri and Poonch districts for taking stock of activities related to agriculture and its allied sectors .At Lambadi the concerned officers informed the Minister that there are 3500 cocoon growers in the area who with the technical and financial support from Sericulture Development department are involved in silkworm rearing for cocoon production on a large scale.
Hanjura stressed on keeping the farmers abreast with the latest know how about the field and said that the cocoon growers should be covered under crop insurance scheme so that crop losses are compensated. He also inspected Api-Culture colony and Cocoon Rearing unit at Lambadi and asked for taking concerted efforts to tap the potential of the area.The Minister also paid obeisance at Shahadra Sharief shrine and prayed for the welfare and betterment of the people of the State. The Minister directed the management of the Shrine to ensure cleanliness in a around the premises.District Development Commissioner (DDC), Poonch Mohd Harun Malik , DDC Rajouri Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Director, Agriculture Jammu, S. S. Jamwal, Director Sericulture, Additional Director Jammu M.L. Chadgal, Chief Agriculture Officers of Rajouri and Poonch districts and other officers of Agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, revenue, Command Area Development Department and other district officers accompanied the Minister during his visit.