Chetan Singh Jauramajra, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Horticulture, Punjab, and Sanyam Aggarwal, IAS, Special Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with officials and progressive farmers, graciously visited Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute (CSR&TI), Central Silk Board, Pampore, J&K
Srinagar: Chetan Singh Jauramajra, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Horticulture, Punjab, and Sanyam Aggarwal, IAS, Special Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with officials and progressive farmers, graciously visited Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute (CSR&TI), Central Silk Board, Pampore, J&K today, 25.06.2024. The Hon’ble Minister, along with officials, was welcomed by Dr. Ashok Kumar K, Director I/C, CSR&TI, Pampore. They had interactions with the institute’s scientists, showing keen interest in sericulture practices.
The Hon’ble Minister visited the museum and laboratories of the institute, demonstrating a great interest in understanding the various aspects of sericulture and asking several questions. The Hon’ble Minister took several initiatives to understand the scope of sericulture in Punjab and identified the need for training programs for sericulture farmers in the region. During his visit to the post-cocoon laboratory, he showed great curiosity about the reeling process and gathered information on implementing the post-cocoon sector in Punjab. In the museum, he showed significant interest in learning about mulberry varieties suitable for Punjab’s environmental conditions. Upon hearing about a field trial of newly developed nutrigenetic silkworm hybrids proposed for the Punjab region, he assured support for the proposed trial and welcomed the technologies, host plants, and silkworm hybrids aimed at improving farmers’ economy.
After his tour of the different laboratories, the Hon’ble Cabinet Minister and Special Secretary took the initiative to understand the mandate and activities of CSR&TI, Pampore, and its nested units, presented by Dr. Irfan Illahi, Joint Director.
In his final note, the Hon’ble Cabinet Minister appreciated the institute’s efforts in developing various mulberry varieties and silkworm hybrids suitable for different regions and seasons. The Minister also stressed the importance of initiating post-cocoon activities so that farmers can bring raw silk to the market instead of cocoons, thereby increasing their profitability and improving their economic conditions.
