SRINAGAR: The Director Sericulture Development Department (SDD), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, today conducted a comprehensive field visit to various mulberry farms, blocks, nurseries & offices in in south Kashmir to monitor and assess the functioning of the department and to ensure the development of mulberry farms/nurseries for propagation of quality mulberry foliage.
Moreover, he also stressed that the mulberry plant material should be readily available to the silkworm rearers hailing from said areas for the ensuing silkworm-rearing season.
The Director further emphasized the field functionaries of the Department to bring vast swathes of land available in these areas under mulberry plantation by way of area expansion.
During the visit, the Director held a detailed interaction with employees to have a spot review of the current status vis-a-vis mulberry plantation and the status of cocoon production.
Emphasizing upon the critical role of mulberry plants in the sericulture industry, he instructed the field functionaries to make necessary arrangements well in advance to meet the demand for mulberry plants for the ensuing silkworm rearing season and also exhorted upon them to gear themselves for developing more clusters soon.
The Director during his visit also inspected many offices of the Department in south Kashmir and issued on-spot directions for the renovation of all Office complexes across J&K. Besides, a proposal for the construction of an Office Building and allotment of land for the District Sericulture Office Shopian has been furnished to the District Administration Shopian.
On the occasion, the Director also exhorted upon engineering Wings to complete the developmental projects and construction works within the scheduled timeline.
He further instructed the employees to work closely with local farmers, providing them with the technical support and expertise needed for successful silkworm rearing. This collaborative effort is essential for the growth and sustainability of the sericulture sector.
He also directed them to leave no stone unturned for achieving bumper crop in the upcoming rearing season.
He reiterated his commitment to foster phenomenal growth in sericulture so that the silkworm-rearing communities living in the far-flung areas across J&K in general and in South Kashmir in particular thrive and prosper leaps and bounds so that the socio-economic development of the region is strengthened further.