The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Nov 3: P. Sivakumar (IFS), Member Secretary, Central Silk Board (CSB), Government of India, who is on an official visit to the Kashmir Valley, chaired a high-level meeting today at the Directorate of Sericulture Development Department, J&K, Tulsi Bagh, Srinagar. The meeting reviewed the progress on actionable points discussed in the previous session.
The meeting was attended by senior officers from the Central Silk Board and the Sericulture Development Department, J&K, led by Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Sericulture J&K.
During the meeting, Mr. Bhat presented a detailed overview of the department’s ongoing initiatives, particularly those related to beneficiary-oriented components and the timely release of funds. He outlined the department’s strategic and proactive measures for effective implementation of schemes at the grassroots level, emphasizing a focus on sustainable and innovative practices to enhance productivity and improve cocoon quality across the region.
Mr. Bhat also apprised the Member Secretary about various departmental programmes, including mass awareness campaigns, skill development initiatives, extensive plantation drives, outreach in tribal areas, and infrastructure development projects.
Highlighting the department’s achievements for the year 2024–25, Mr. Bhat noted that over 90% of allocated funds under various schemes had already been utilized. He urged for the early release of funds for 2025–26 to ensure timely on-ground implementation, benefitting more than 2,000 sericulture stakeholders under the proposed plans. He also detailed the department’s post-cocoon initiatives aimed at value addition and industry growth.
The visit of the Member Secretary to Jammu and Kashmir is viewed as a significant step toward strengthening the sericulture sector, with an emphasis on boosting cocoon production, enhancing quality, and fostering the holistic development of the industry in the Union Territory.
