The Minister of Agriculture of the State of Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, has recently inaugurated the Silk Worm Seed Cold Store at Tulsi Bagh which was completed in a record time of six months at an estimated cost of Rs 1.25 crore.

The minister said that State government was keen to develop silk industry of Kashmir on modern lines and would provide best possible market facilities for cocoon rearers.

He added that state had huge potential for cocoon production and more people could take up sericulture as an economic activity with comparatively little expenditure.There has been a need to establish more silk reeling units in the state so that cocoon production is utilised locally for value addition and employment generation.

The minister said that special focus was being given to support silk industry in the state and develop it on modern lines. Various initiatives have been taken especially, in silkworm seed production and post cocoon sector for the promotion of sericulture industry.

He further said it was inspiring that this year during cocoon auction cocoon rearers got better rewards for their hard work than from the previous year.This year government organised cocoon auction market in which a good number of farmers, reeling unit holders and outside rearers participated.

He thanked the farmers and other unit holders for their cooperation and assured them that every possible help would be provided to them for the promotion of sericulture activities.

He also underscored the need to generate more awareness among the farming community about the latest techniques of the field and government’s welfare schemes for increasing cocoon production. The Minister also stressed for adopting innovative methods for an increase in sericulture production in the state.

The plant has a capacity to house 20,000 silkworms of seed at a time, an official handout read.The store features all the stages of cold chain through which the silkworm seed has to pass in the run-up to its release for spring silkworm rearing.