SRINAGAR: Government has sanctioned Rs 8 crore for setting up of two modern Silk Plants one each at Zakoora in Srinagar and Samba in Jammu. About 40 additional silk rearing units would be established in these parks to enhance silk yarn production from existing 22 MTs to about 90 MTs annually.
This was announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Abdul Aziz Zargar after inaugurating 15-days long entrepreneurship development programme on "Textile Manufacturing" here on August 23. The programme has been organized by the J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) in collaboration with the Sericulture development Department and the Central Silk Board to acquaint entrepreneurs about prospects of Silk processing industry in the state.
The Director, Sericulture Development Department, Mr Mohammad Ashraf Khan, Director, JKEDI, Dr. M.I. Paray, Director, Central Silk Board (CSB), Dr. M.A. Khan, Joint Director Sericulture, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and a large number of entrepreneurs were present on the occasion.
The Minister said Government have taken several measures to boost traditional Silk Industry in the State which include setting up of two Cocoons banks and two Cocoon Exchanges one each at Jammu and Srinagar.
In addition, modern Cocoon drying cocoon godown facilities at district level are also in offing, the Minister added. Mr. Zargar called for channelizing talented human resource in J&K by inculcating entrepreneurship spirit adding that sericulture offers vast scope for employment and economic generation. He said both Central and State Governments are providing liberal incentives to the entrepreneurs for venturing in silk industry adding that 50 per cent subsidy is available on purchase of reeling machinery and 30 per cent capital subsidy under new Industrial Policy. He said silk sector in J&K has a greater potential of over Rs. 20 crore which needs to be tapped optimally as 60 per cent of the cocoon raw material goes outside the state for its reeling, weaving and value addition.
The Director Sericulture gave a detailed account of incentives available to the silkworm rearers. He said J&K produces 800 MTs of cocoon, of which only 200 MTs are processed for yarn production. He urged the need for setting up of more reeling units in the state to consume maximum possible cocoons locally. There are only 26 reeling units in the state as on now including 16 units in Jammu.
Dr. M.I. Parray said Entrepreneurship Development Programme on "Textile manufacturing" in a leap forward towards revival of traditional silk industry in the state. The DCCB assured all possible help of the Centre for revival of silk industry in the state.