College of Temperate Sericulture (CoTS) in collaboration with KVK-Gurez and department of Sericulture today organized an awareness camp on “Opportunities of sericulture in Gurez valley” at Refugee Colony, Baghtour.
Farmers, farm women and rural youth from the villages like Kanzalwan, Tarbal, Izmarg, Baghtour of block Baghtour participated in the event.The participants were sensitized about the importance of Silk Worm rearing in present day Agriculture.
The Programme was part of a series of events organized under the J&K DST funded Project entitled “Sericulture-Option for Livelihood security & employment generation in Tribal areas of Kashmir”.The Principal Investigator, Dr Khurshid Ahmad Dar deliberated upon the importance of Sericulture in livelihood security and various employment opportunities in the sector in the tribal himalayan regions especially in Gurez valley and demonstrated some scientific techniques involved in silk worm rearing.
Earlier, during the current year, the Mulberry saplings suitable for cold climatic conditions of the valley were distributed amongst the selected farmers in the valley and more than 70 per cent success rate was observed regarding the survival of Mulberry Plants in this cold temperate region.
The Principle Investigator of the project assured the participants that more Mulberry saplings will be distributed in the valley during the coming season and tool kits including Pruning saw, Khurpis and Pruning Scissors were also distributed on the occasion under the Project.
Dr Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Incharge Head of the KVK-Gurez stressed upon the need for wider adoption of technologies involved in Sericulture for the larger benefit of the farming community.On the occasion, other scientists from College of temperate sericulture and KVK-Gurez interacted with the participants of the programme.