Director Sericulture J&K, Ajaz Ahamd Bhat today kick-started 05 days Skill Development Training programme at Town Hall here under Capacity Building Activities for Silkworm Rearers/ Farmers under HADP 2023-24.
Addressing a huge gathering, the Director underscored the need for skill up-gradation of Silkworm Rearers to undertake silkworm rearing on scientific lines. He also added that among other initiatives of the department, emphasis is being laid to organize regular capacity building programmes for Silkworm Rearers and youth across J&K.
The department is also aiming to further strengthen the capacity building activities to organize exposure visits for Silkworm Rearers and youth in collaboration with Central Silk Board to different states of India to sensitize them about the latest Sericulture techniques being practiced by the Silkworm Rearers outside J&K.
On the occasion, the Director Sericulture felicitated Silkworm rearers with tool kits. He emphasized that people in general and the unemployed youth in particular need to be made aware regarding the potential of the Sericulture sector and various schemes of the department to increase their income generation capacity.
The Director Sericulture directed the officers that utmost priority must be given for wide publicity and awareness about the facilities/incentives being provided by the department to the Silkworm Rearers and to those who intend to adopt Silkworm rearing as a means to earn dignified livelihood.
He stressed upon the Officers and field functionaries of the department to extend their full cooperation to the Silkworm Rearing community and share their expertise to prevent any prevalence of disease during ensuing silkworm rearing.
Moreover, the department of Sericulture is devising a robust disease prevention mechanism by framing Technical Committees/ Teams in South, Central and North areas for prompt response to control and contain prevalence of various diseases of silkworms in order to bolster quality cocoon production and save the silkworm rearers from crop loss.
The Director Sericulture also emphasized that the department also aims to undertake extensive mulberry plantation across J&K and in this regard various institutes and vacant retrieved land will be covered under the plantation programme so that the abundant leaf reserve will be provided to the Silkworm Rearers in coming rearing seasons.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. N.K. Bhatia, Director Central Sericulture Research & Training Institute, CSB, Pampore also shared his valuable inputs and assured that his organization will extend full cooperation in capacity building and Skill development up-gradation of the farmers, Silkworm Rearers and the youth.
Dr. M.F. Baqal, Prof. & Dean TSRI-SKUAST-K, Mirgund also shared his view point and informed that the SKUAST will also extend every assistance and support for organizing capacity building programme and highlighted the importance of these programmes for Silkworm Rearers. The District Sericulture Officer, Pulwama and other Officers of the department were also present on the occasion.