J&K Government approves project for revival of Silk industry with new measures to reclaim past glory

JAMMU, JANUARY 15: Sericulture, or silk production, has a long history in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The region is known for its high-quality bivoltine silk and has the potential to become a major silk-producing area in the country. However, the industry has faced challenges in recent years and there is a need for development and modernization in order to meet the growing demand for superior silk which can match and replace not only the silk being imported in to the country but also compete in its export requirements.

The UT administration has approved a project with an outlay of Rs 91 crores to improve production and productivity of silk in J&K through technological interventions. The project which contains end to end interventions, right from availability of mulberry leaves, to better seed and worm production and finally augmentation of reeling facilities, shall double the number of cocoons produced in J&K and boost value addition by establishment of a state-of-the-art automatic reeling facility at Jammu.

“Sericulture is the only cash crop that ensures significant returns in a short amount of time, earning it a special place in the rural economy. Although the state produces high-quality bivoltine cocoons, productivity and total cocoon output are low” said Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department.  Similarly, cocoon yields are half of the national average and over the past few years the output from the sector has been shrinking. Improving seed quality, rearing facilities and cocoon processing will provide a huge shot in the arm for the sector and improve income at farm levels, he added.

“Technological interventions to strengthen Sericulture in J&K” is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in UT of J&K. The prestigious committee is headed by Dr Mangala Rai, Former DG ICAR and has other luminaries in the field of Agriculture, Planning, Statistics & Administration like Shri Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA, Dr. P. K Joshi, Secretary, NAAS, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner MOA & FW, Dr. H. S Gupta, Former Director, IARI, Sh. Atal Dulloo IAS, Financial Commissioner (Addl Chief Secretary) APD apart from the Vice Chancellors of the twin Agriculture Universities of the UT.

One of the main challenges facing the sericulture industry in J&K is the lack of access to modern technology. Many farmers still use traditional methods of silk production, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive as well as sub-par in terms of quality of output. This makes it difficult for them to benefit from the $250 million export market for Indian Silk, said Sh. Manzoor Qadri, Director Sericulture J&K. The project shall ensure that the global fame which silk from J&K had garnered will be regained.

The major interventions that are being undertaken in the project include planting 10 Lakh new mulberry plants in tree mode, doubling the silkworm seed production from 8 lakh to 16 lakh, increasing in cocoon production from 700 MT to 1350 MT, establishing 100 new chawki rearing centers for supply of chawki worms to seri farmers, giving employment to7000 new silkworm farmersand skill development of existing15000 farmers.

A marketing and value addition support is also being created through establishment of a high value enterprise in the from of an Automatic Reeling Machine (ARM) which will directly benefit 2000 seri-farmers. The state-of-the-art machine will allow production of international quality silk within the UT fetching better prices for our cocoons.

Dr Firdose Ahmad Malik, Assistant Professor, SKUAST-Kashmir who co-drafted the project said that the overall objective of the project is to strengthen processes that promote economic development of sericulture farmers of UT of J&K and create an environment of growth and investment in the sector.

Overall, the project demonstrates Jammu and Kashmir government’s keen intent to revive and modernize the sericulture industry of the UT. With the predicted increase in production and quality of silk, as well as the improved livelihoods of those involved, the industry is well on its way to reclaiming its past glory and becoming a major contributor to the state’s economy.