Altaf Hamid Rao.
1500 farmers completes professional training,
MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : Under the spirit of further promotion of fast~emerging self~income earning through the Kashmir ~ based ancient cottage Industry of Sericulture in Azad Jammu Kashmir, 3-day training to 1500 farmers for mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing in the state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir concluded in Poonch division of AJK late Friday, official sources said.
“It was primarily aimed at to facilitate the existing and intending farmers for their participation in practical working with the due technical assistance and support of the AJK State Department of Sericulture through distribution of Rearing Kits amongst the trained farmers”, distrclosed Syed Ali Asghar Shah, Director AJK Sericulture Department while talking to our Special AJK Correspondent Altaf Hamid RAO here on Saturday.
“A Large number of lady farmers also participated in the training program showing their keen interest in silkworm rearing”, Shah sahib told in an interview to The Parliament Times.
The head of the State Sericulture Department stated that in continuation of distribution of 174 Rearing Kits with imported and local Silk Seed Packets in the recent past, 80 Rearing Kits were distributed amongst the remaining farmers trained at District Haveeli / Kahouta, Rawlakot District Poonch and Gorah District Sudhnoti during last two days.
Syed Ali Asghar Shah disclosed that Chinese~produced well as local silk seed packets shall also be distributed amongst these farmers during upcoming rearing season (spring 2023) to these trained farmers.
The Director Sericulture earlier informed the participants of the distribution ceremonies of Rearing Kits at various localities of the State that his Sericulture Department has also inked an integrated plan to distribute thousands of mulberry plants with Urea fertilizer amongst the sericulture farmers during upcoming season of mulbery trees plantation in the AJK State to facilitate the farmers for silkworm rearing in the future stipulated seasons.
Muzaffar Hussain Gorsi Sericulture Development Officer Pounch, Mr Salaar Mehmood and Mr Daoud Abdulla ASDO Haveeli and Sudhnoti also attended the Kits Distribution ceremonies held at Haveeli, Rawalakot and Sudhnoti inviting farmers to participate in the cottage Industry of Sericulture as maximum as possible to be benefited of it economically.
According to a study conducted by this Correspondent Correspondent, Sericulture is a traditional and home based industry of the Kashmir providing additional source of income for poor and landless farmers.
A farmer may earn more than Rs 30,000/ by rearing on packet of silk seed within 35 days. The activity is equally important for poverty alleviation, women empowerment and environmental improvement of the state.
During last rearing season an amount of Rs. 13 million had been recorded as a direct income earned by the farmers in the private sector by rearing silk seed packets provided free of cost by the Sericulture department in Azad Jammu Kashmir.
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