UDHAMPUR, Dec 10: Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura on Thursday said that Government is keen to create and provide best possible market facilities for cocoon rearers of the State.
Minister was speaking after inaugurating a Cocoon Auction Market Complex at Cherry, Udhampur today.
The Cocoon Auction Market Complex has been constructed at a cost of Rs 60 lakh under the Catalytic Development Programme of Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, GOI and Sericulture Development Department. The market complex will facilitate marketing of cocoons and will cater to the market needs of more than 6000 cocoon producers of the district.
Minister of State for Finance and Information Technology Mr. Pawan Kumar Gupta, MLA Chenani Mr. Dina Nath Bhaghat, Director Sericulture Dr. Malik Farooq, Additional Director Sericulture Jammu and officers of Agriculture department, Central Silk Board and Sericulture departments were present on the occasion.
The Minister special focus is being given to support silk industry in the State and develop it on modern lines. He said various new initiatives have been launched especially in silkworm seed production and post cocoon sector for the promotion of sericulture industry. He said an imported Automatic Reeling Machine is being installed in Jammu so that cocoon produced here is reeled within the State.
The Minister said that district Udhampur is a leading producer of cocoon in the State and more than 2 lakh kgs of cocoon are produced in the district annually. He said due to adoption of latest technologies cocoon production and cocoon quality has improved substantially resulting in higher returns to the farmers.
Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Gupta in his address said that Udhampur has a very good potential for cocoon production and more people can take up sericulture as an economic activity with comparatively little effort and expenditure. He said that there is need to establish silk reeling units in the district so that cocoon production is utilized locally for value addition and employment generation. He called for covering farmers under the insurance Scheme.
MLA Chenani, Mr. Bhaghat underscored the need to generate awareness among the farming community about Government schemes and latest techniques available. He also highlighted the various initiatives started by the Government for the welfare of the people.
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