Dr Maheshwari says govt plans to revive project to enhance greenery, control air pollution

PAMPORE: Authorities from various government departments plan to revive the Mulberry Plantation Project along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in south Kashmir.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Dr M. Maheshwari, Director of the Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute (CSR&TI), Pampore, revealed that their scientists have been working on eight important projects. She highlighted that the plantation of mulberry trees along the National Highway is one of the main projects, which was initiated in 2022.
Dr Maheshwari stated that the project had an initial target of 19,000 mulberry plantations. “Around 14,000 trees were planted during 2022-23 and 5,000 during 2023-24,” she said, adding that the plantation suffered significant damage due to various factors, with grazing by cattle being the most detrimental.
The Director emphasized the need to protect the tree plantation and mentioned that discussions were held with the Director of Sericulture Kashmir and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to revive and protect the project.
She added that the mulberry plantation along the National Highway will enhance greenery and help control air pollution. “We are going to revive the project along with the Department of Sericulture (DOS) and NHAI,” she said, expressing the intention to implement the project as soon as possible.
The mulberry plantation pilot along the National Highway was inaugurated by the then Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Upendra Prasad, in October 2022. The project had an estimated cost of INR 161.105 lakh, aiming to cover around 55 kilometers of carriageway along NH connecting Galander to Qazigund.
Dr Maheshwari also disclosed that they are working on releasing a new variety of mulberry named PPR1. She said that the variety is under trial at the All India Coordination and Evaluation of Mulberry (AICEM) and, once the data is received, they will consider its release to farmers. The variety has good rooting ability and will be beneficial for farmers.
The Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Pampore, is one of the premier institutes under the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Entrusted with the Research & Development of mulberry sericulture in North India, the institute also manages two Regional Sericultural Research Stations at Miransahib, Jammu, and Dehradun, along with three Research Extension Centres and a Basic Seed Farm (BSF) Station at Manasbal, J&K. The institute provides essential Research, Development/Extension, and HRD support to states in North India, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana.

BILAL HABIB