Kargil: The Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute (CSR&TI), Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Pampore, in collaboration with the University of Ladakh, organized a Consultative Workshop on “Sericulture Development in Ladakh” at the Baroo Conference Hall in Kargil today.
The workshop drew participation from nearly 100 stakeholders, including heads and representatives of all major line departments of the district.
The event was chaired by Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, lauded the efforts of the Central Silk Board for introducing sericulture to Ladakh. While presenting certificates to the trainees of the 45-day Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Training, he expressed confidence that the sector would soon evolve into a sustainable livelihood opportunity for the people of Kargil.
He extended gratitude to P. Sivakumar, IFS, Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, and Padmini Singla, IAS, Joint Secretary (Fibre), Ministry of Textiles, for advancing the commitments made during the “Ekta Event” held in Leh in June 2025. He assured that steps will be taken to establish a sericulture wing within an appropriate line department until a full-fledged sericulture department is set up under LAHDC.
Aga Syeed Mujtaba Mussavi, Executive Councilor, (Social Welfare/Agriculture/Animal & Sheep Husbandry/ICDS), LAHDC Kargil, reiterated the district’s commitment to popularizing sericulture and assured full cooperation to CSB in its development programmes.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sardar Singh, Director, CSB-CSR&TI, Pampore, noted that the Central Silk Board remains dedicated to promoting sericulture in Ladakh. He informed that CSB has been conducting training programmes in Kargil since 2016 and that the region is now well-positioned to adopt sericulture as a viable income-generating activity. He underlined that the climatic conditions of Kargil and adjoining areas are highly suitable for silkworm rearing. The workshop also featured discussions on an agro-based sericulture model, the potential of seri-tourism, and integrated farming systems. Dr. Singh also provided a detailed account of beneficiary-oriented schemes of Silk Samagra-2, a flagship programme of MoT for the promotion of Sericulture.
The spotlight of the event was the participation of trained farmers who displayed the cocoons harvested during their training period. Their enthusiasm and willingness to take up sericulture commercially underscored the sector’s growing acceptance. Farmers also requested continued support from CSB and the Government of Ladakh to sustain the momentum.
Sharing the resource outlook, Shri Gulzar Ahmad Khan, Scientist-D, CSB, highlighted that more than 6,000 wild mulberry plants are naturally available in and around Kargil. He announced CSB’s plan to plant an additional 5,000 mulberry saplings in farmers’ fields during the upcoming plantation season to strengthen the mulberry base essential for sericulture expansion.
The local coordinator of NRLM clusters assured that sericulture would soon be integrated as a primary livelihood activity under NRLM. Officials from KVK Kargil, faculty members of the University of Ladakh, and representatives of all major line departments of the district also assured full support for scaling up sericulture initiatives. Executive Councilors of LAHDC Kargil, senior CSB scientists, entrepreneurs, NGOs, SHGs, and trained farmers were among the active participants.
The workshop concluded with key recommendations and a comprehensive roadmap for expanding sericulture on a commercial scale in Ladakh, marking a significant step toward rural livelihood generation and economic development in the region.
