Srinagar January 09 (KNS): Ajaz Ahamd Bhat (IAS), Director Sericulture J&K, today visited District Kathua of Jammu Division to kick start this season’s Mulberry Plantation in Jammu Division by planting a Mulberry Sapling in Mulberry Nursery at Changram, Kathua.
Speaking on the occasion the Director Sericulture J&K conveyed that about 5.50 lac standard size Mulberry Saplings shall be distributed for plantation and 1.10 lakh Mulberry saplings shall be distributed free of cost among the farmers of District Kathua. Besides, 36 lac Mulberry cuttings/ roots shall be grown during the current season. On the occasion the Director Sericulture J&K presented momentos and certificates as a token of appreciation to the farmers and silkworm rearers for their participation in a one day awareness programme organized by the Sericulture Dev. Department J&K in District Kathua.
The Director Sericulture J&K while addressing the huge gathering of Farmers assured full support of the Department vis-à-vis technical guidance and plethora of facilities for undertaking Sericulture practices which include Silkworm Rearing, Reeling, Weaving etc. On the occasion the Director Sericulture J&K stressed that the unemployed youth and farmers should come forward and get in touch with the Department to avail all the schemes and benefits introduced by the Government for their welfare. He also informed the gathering the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has brought the Sericulture Development Department J&K under the ambit of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) which will go a long way to boost the Sericulture Industry in J&K and comprehensively transform the economic condition of people in J&K. The Director Sericulture J&K expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor J&K, the Worthy Chief Secretary of J&K and the Worthy Principal Secretary to Govt. Agriculture Production Department for their unwavering support to the Sericulture Development Department J&K.
Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS), Director Sericulture J&K reiterated that the people in general and the youth in particular should harness the potential of the Department in order to exponentially accelerate their income and leverage the benefit of various schemes introduced by the Government. Moreover, the Director Sericulture J&K informed that for any query in this regard people can contact the nearest Sericulture Assistant (Zone) or District Sericulture Officer or Directorate of Sericulture J&K, Tulsi Bagh, Srinagar/ B.C Road Jammu. The contact numbers and email addresses of the department have already been shared through print and electronic media.
The Director Sericulture J&K during his address exhorted upon the field functionaries of the Department to provide every assistance to the silkworm rearers and others so that they shall undertake sericulture practices without any difficulty in order to boost their cocoon production and shall also fetch reasonably good earnings of their produce.
The Additional Director, Sericulture Dev. Department Jammu, Development Officer, ISDP, Rajouri, District Sericulture Officer, Kathua and other officers/ officials of the department were also present on the occasion.
The Director Sericulture J&K also visited departmental Mulberry Farms/ Nurseries and offices during his visit to District Kathua.(KNS)