The Jammu and Kashmir Sericulture Department earned a revenue of Rs 11 crore from the sale of cocoons reared in the Valley last fiscal,an official spokesman said here. This was announced by J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans Vice Chairman Rachpal Singh during a review meeting of the agriculture and allied sectors yesterday,the spokesman said. He said 26,000 families are engaged directly with the silk industry,while 173 mulberry tree nurseries have been established in the Valley. During the current year,20 lakh mulberry saplings have been planted in the Valley,he added. The chairman was apprised about various steps taken to revive the silk industry in Kashmir,which include setting up a power loom by the department for weaving silk fabric. In a review of the performance of Animal Husbandry department,the meeting was informed that annual production of milk in the Valley is 11.5 lakh tonnes. A sum of Rs 5 lakh has been provided to farmers for purchasing cows to increase milk production in the Valley under the dairy enterprises scheme,the spokesman said,adding that the farmers are given a 25 per cent subsidy under this scheme.
