Secretary Agriculture Production Department (APD), Manzoor Ahmad Lone today inaugurated farmers' awareness-cum-interaction programme and launched wall calendar of Sericulture department here at the Directorate of Sericulture Development Department. Director Sericulture, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri; Additional Director Sericulture Development Department, Kashmir, Shabir Ahmed Bhat and other Senior Officers of Sericulture Development Department and large gathering of silkworm rearers attended the camp.Speaking on the occasion, Lone asked the officers of the Department and the stakeholders to put in sincere efforts to implement different programmes of the department in more systematic and scientific manner for both horizontal and vertical expansion in cocoon production and Mulberry plantation. The Secretary stressed on the officers of the department to formulate effective strategy for coverage of the farmers under different schemes.During the interaction session, the farmers put forth various demands. They sought coverage of farmers under Health insurance scheme, providing of Silkworm rearing sheds and other vital components.The Secretary APD asked the Director Sericulture J&K to revive the Health insurance scheme and submit a holistic and realistic proposal after thorough survey of the beneficiaries. Lone underlined the need to devise effective strategy so that value addition is made within the state, for which a robust weaving sector is to be established.Meanwhile Lone launched the annual wall calendar of the Sericulture Development Department depicting its various activities with brief tips for successful crop production.In his address, the Director Sericulture assured that concrete efforts would be made by the department along with field officers to increase both cocoon and raw silk production and the directions passed by the Secretary shall be implemented in letter and spirit.