Jammu, Jan 09: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has ordered launching of a comprehensive scheme for taking up massive mulberry trees plantation by the people on wasteland and denuded forests to promote sericulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Plants, fencing material and technical know-how should be provided free of cost to boost cocoon production and supplement their income, Sayeed said at a meeting here.
He said improved quality of plants should be provided to increase leaf yield for increased cocoon production and ordered that wasteland, denuded forests and peripheries for agriculture land should be identified for taking up plantation of dwarf species of mulberry plants.
Some areas should be taken up under this scheme o experimental basis in all the districts immediately.
Over 6.80 lakh kg of cocoons were produced in the state this year and the rearers are getting adequate price for their produce as the government has set up cocoon banks to regulate sale of the commodity on remunerative rates.
Sayeed asked the rural development department to popularize the scheme for construction of godowns by the private entrepreneurs in the far-flung areas of the state which would be hired for stocking of foodgrains by the FCI for an assured period of at least seven years.
Bureau Report