Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today said that department has been striving hard to boost sericulture activities throughout the length and breadth of the state to rope in more and more unemployed youth into the entrepreneurial activities.The Minister said this after laying the foundation stone of Chawki Rearing Centre (CRC) at Kanier, Chrar –i- Sharief. The centre will be constructedat an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh. The Minister said that department has managed to acquire around 300 kanals of Land at Kanier area of District Budgam for the establishment of nursery/ Block to introduce to the sericulture practices in Chrar –i- Sharief constituencies.Hanjura said Nursery/ Block shall start generating dividends in the form of employment generation. He said block will generate around 162000 Kgs of Mulberry leaf sufficient enough to rear some 135 ounces of silkworm seeds in the area.The Minister said that farmers associated with the activity shall harvest around 8000 Kgs Mulberry leaf worth Rs 32.00 lakhs. Further, the cost of cocoon production of local silkworm rearers will be reduced significantly as the cocoon growers will not have to move to Mirgund, Baramulla for collecting mulberry leaf.