5000 families earn Rs 4.49 crore this year

UDHAMPUR: Sericulture is the oldest Agro based labour intensive & commercially attractive economic Industry. It provides Income & employment to rural people especially farmers with small and marginal land holdings. It is a subsidiary occupation and more than 5000 families especially women are associated with it in Udhampur District. The women get job at their door steps and can earn with dignity. It is a short duration cash crop as the life cycle of silkworm is of 25-30 days duration. The J&K UT has a special status as its climatic conditions are conducive for bivoltine cocoon production. There is great demand for the bivoltine cocoons in India for production of quality silk.
Udhampur District is the leading district in cocoon production in J&K UT. In the year 2021, the Sericulture department distributed 5001.5 ounces of silkworm seed among 5130 farmers after Chawki rearing.
Recording a bumper harvest, this year the district produced 155151 KG cocoon and the farmers earned an amount of Rs. 4.49 crore.
Mulberry silkworm is a mono-phagus as it feeds on only mulberry leaves. Mulberry is a hardy plant which can be grown in a wide range of climatic conditions. For rearing of silkworms, the propagation and plantation of mulberry trees is very necessary. In Udhampur district the department has 15 mulberry nurseries for production of mulberry plants. The department is providing improved varieties of mulberry plants to the farmers free of cost and at their doorstep. In the year 2020-21, 60300 Mulberry trees were distributed among the farmers and this year it targets to provide 76300 plants to the farmers free of cost.

KR Desk