SRINAGAR: Cocoon trade has reached Rs 20 crore this year against Rs 5 crore in the Kashmir valley, where authorities have arranged selling and buying facilities for both local and outside buyers.
Officials said today 2000 families were associated with this trade which has grown to Rs 20 crore this year from just Rs 5 crore from last year.
The Sericulture Department has been facilitating selling and buying by roping in local as well as outside buyers and setting up Cocoon auction markets,they added.
They said Silk Cocoon rearing was turning out to be a profitable and viable option for farmers as government is extending assistance through various incentives, technological inputs and guidance in this regard.
The Silk Cocoon Auction Market have been set up by the Sericulture Department at Srinagar to facilitate selling and buying of local silk cocoons.
Cocoon producers from Pattan, Tangmarg, Bandipora, Sonawari, Budgam, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kangan and Tral have brought their produce for selling to this market, thronged by both local and outside state buyers.
Similar auction markets have already been set up at various other places across the state.
With weavers receiving double the price for their produce this year in the auction market than last year, they said adding that it was due to the sustained efforts of the government that both Silk Cocoon production and its quality has seen marked improvement, resulting in higher returns to the Silk weavers this year around.
They said last year per Kg price was around Rs 550, whereas we have seen this time around, it is selling anywhere between Rs 750 to Rs 1,065 per Kg here depending upon the quality.”
Assistance was also being provided to local Silk reeling units through loans and other incentives which will be carried forward for the benefit of both the farmers and local unit holders.
“We are also looking into providing market support to local reeling units so that an integrated Silk Industry flourishes in the State they maintained,” official added.
