SRINAGAR, Sept 3: As a part of its efforts aimed at revamping the heritage silk industry of the state, the Jammu and Kashmir government looks forward to establish composite units for silk industry, in association with the Central Silk Board.
The composite units would allow cocoon rearers of the state to improve value propositions of their products, said Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir after inaugurating the cocoon crop auction at Aloocha Bagh in Srinagar.
The main aim behind setting up such composite units is to provide optimum benefit to the cocoon cultivators at their door step, the Minister said.
The composite units would be established where it is possible to undertake rearing, reeling and twisting activities at the same place. Establishment of such centres would help the cocoon rearers to earn better returns for their products, the Minister added.
Further stating that the Jammu & Kashmir silk industry has a very bright future, the Minister said that the number of cocoon rearers across the state has risen significantly over the past three years.
He mentioned that the state government has introduced several incentive schemes to encourage farmers to undertake cocoon rearing as a profitable activity.
A large mass of people, particularly poor people, depend on the silk industry for their livelihood, and efforts are being made to familiarize them with trade technology so as to help them produce quality cocoon, Mir said.
Stating that quality cocoons fetched a price of Rs. 725 per kg at the auction, Mir said the sericulture department is trying all means to equip cocoon cultivators with present-day techniques and trends to help them rear premium quality cocoon to compete in both domestic as well as international markets.
(Agencies)
