ISLAMABAD, Nov 01(INP-WealthPK): 1500 farmers, both men and women were trained in a three-day workshop on silkworm rearing and mulberry cultivation in the Poonch division of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) region.
“AJK State Department of Sericulture distributed the kits for rearing the silkworms among the farmers who were present at the training. Farmers were trained on the technical requirements of operating the rearing kits so that they can improve their economic conditions by having their own capital. Female farmers were also present in the training. This showed the gendered approach of the Department of Sericulture to help both men and women, improve their livelihoods,” said Syed Ali Asghar Shah, Director of AJK Sericulture Department.
According to the head of the state sericulture department, “in continuation of the distribution of 174 rearing kits with imported and local silk seed packets in the recent past, eighty rearing kits were distributed among the remaining farmers trained at Districts Haveeli/Kahouta, Rawlakot, Poonch, Gorah and Sudhnoti during the last two days.”
Asghar Shah said that, “Chinese-produced silk seed packets will also be distributed among the farmers who were trained during the three-day workshop. Availability of Chinese silk seed packets will be ensured for the next rearing season in spring 2023. Mulberry plants will also be distributed along with urea fertilizer for the farmers to successfully rear the silkworms. The season for mulberry tree plantation is already upon us and we will start the distribution drive soon.”
Kits distribution ceremonies at Haveeli, Rawalakot and Sudhnoti were attended by Muzaffar Hussain Gorsi, Sericulture Development Officer Pounch, and Salar Mehmood and Daoud Abdullah, ASDOs Haveeli and Sudhnoti, respectively. They invited the farmers to develop cottage industry so that they could improve the livelihoods for their families.
Silkworm rearing is a traditional industry of the AJK region. It serves as an extra source of income for families. Farmers can earn up to PKR 30,000 in a matter of 35 days if they successfully rear the silkworms to produce silk. Successful development of this cottage industry will go a long way to improve the level of poverty in the region. Women can also earn livelihoods for themselves if they learn how to rear silkworms for producing silk.
During the last rearing season, an amount of PKR 13 million had been registered as direct incomes earned by the farmers in the private sector by rearing silk seed packets provided free of cost by the Sericulture Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
