Director Sericulture inaugurates Resham Kissan Mela

The Biz Reporter
Udhampur, Feb 8 : The Sericulture Development Department J&K today organized a grand Resham Kissan Mela at Riwaayat Banquet Hall Udhampur which was inaugurated by Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, IAS, Director, Sericulture J&K, in the esteemed presence of the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur. The event witnessed an overwhelming response from silkworm rearers, farmers, youth, and women from across Jammu Division, who participated with great enthusiasm.
The event was also graced by the presence of senior officers of the Sericulture Development Department, Central Silk Board (CSB), and SKUAST-Jammu, including the Additional Director, Sericulture Jammu, Project Executive Officer, Jammu, all District Officers, Manager Seeds of Jammu Division, Scientists from CSB and SKUAST, and the Accounts Officer from the Directorate of Sericulture Development Department, Srinagar.
During the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat launched a documentary on Sericulture, highlighting various technical activities and modern practices in sericulture along with the numerous schemes and initiatives of the department. The documentary aims to generate awareness among all stakeholders, including farmers, youth, and entrepreneurs, about the vast potential of sericulture in J&K and how they can benefit from the department’s schemes to achieve a dignified livelihood.
On this occasion, several silkworm rearers and farmers shared their experiences and success stories, emphasizing how the department’s support and schemes have transformed their livelihoods under the able guidance of the Director, Sericulture J&K. They urged the unemployed youth to take advantage of the available schemes and explore sericulture as a viable source of income.
While taking a tour of the stalls set up at the Mela, Mr. Bhat expressed his happiness at the vibrant atmosphere created by the displays, which showcased the entire sericulture value chain. He encouraged farmers and youth to actively engage in sericulture and take full advantage of the department’s various incentive-based schemes.
The Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the plethora of benefits that farmers can avail through the department’s initiatives. He appreciated the efforts of the Sericulture Department under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, IAS, which has been instrumental in promoting sericulture as a sustainable economic activity in J&K.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Bhat stressed the importance of creating awareness among silkworm rearers and farmers about the various schemes available under HADP and Samagra-2. He urged field functionaries to guide and assist farmers at every stage so that they can make the most of the online portals/applications and other resources provided by the department.
He further emphasized the need for capacity building and skill development programs, stating that training initiatives across all districts would play a key role in doubling silk cocoon and silkworm seed production. He also highlighted the post-cocoon sector’s potential for growth, which will significantly contribute to the overall development of sericulture in the region.
Mr. Bhat reiterated his commitment to establishing more Automatic Reeling Machines (ARMs) across J&K, with 90% incentives being provided under Samagra-2 of the Central Silk Board and HADP of the J&K Government. This initiative is expected to boost the local consumption of silk cocoons, thereby strengthening the silk industry in the region.
As part of the event, silkworm rearers, farmers, and dedicated employees of the Sericulture Department were felicitated with mementos and certificates, silkworm rearing kits, tools and implements in recognition of their contributions to the field of Sericulture.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Bhat expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, farmers, youth, and women participants for making the Resham Kissan Mela a grand success. He reiterated that such awareness programs play a crucial role in acquainting people with various Sericulture activities, schemes, and benefits, ultimately leading to economic empowerment and livelihood generation for thousands of people across J&K.
The Resham Kissan Mela served as a platform to connect farmers, stakeholders, and experts, reinforcing the Sericulture Department’s vision to make J&K a leading hub for silk production in India.