Jammu produces 3 times more cocoons
Kashmir’s monopoly in silk is history
Srinagar: Kashmir’s monopoly in silk production is history as Jammu has surpassed sericulture growth over the last twenty years. Silk production in Kashmir has reached lowest levels while at the same time its production has increased substantially in Jammu.
According to the latest official data available, on an average, Jammu region produces 6 lakh kgs of cocoons per year while as production in Kashmir has plummeted to 2 lakh kilograms. Till late eighties Kashmir dominated all the administrative divisions of the State not only in seed, mulberry and cocoon production but refined silk as well.
According to figures on hand, Kashmir was the major contributor to the State’s silk industry generating nearly two third of the total production; however the political instability accentuated by militancy reversed the trend. Out of a total cocoon production of 10.36 lakh kilograms in 1988, Kashmir produced 6.65 kilograms while as Jammu’ share was only 3.71 kilograms.
Anantnag, Pulwama and Kupwara , the traditional silk bastions of Kashmir lost mulberry trees, farmers and the cocoons as well while as Udhampur, Sundarbani, Kathua and some hilly areas of Jammu ended up as major silk centers of the State.
Some 17000 farmers are currently rearing silk in Jammu division while as only 4000 to 5000 people are associated with silk farming in Kashmir. Nearly 1500 villages are busy in cocoon production in Jammu while as only 700 persons are now associated with it in Kashmir.
The over all production in the State has downed almost by half. In 1960 the State produced 15 lakh kilograms of cocoons which has now receded to 8.32 lakh kilograms.
In 1995 the cocoons produced in the State were at an all time low of 6.50 lakh kilograms with Kashmir producing only 1.19 lakh kilograms. Due to a string of pro farmer measures and administrative gear up the production went up to 8.82 lakh kilograms in 2001.
However, the figure failed to grow further and vacillated around 8.50 lakh kilograms over the period.
Dr A R Trag, a former director sericulture currently heading the research wing of the SK University of Agriculture (Kashmir) said technology needs to be transferred to farmer for improving the production besides providing him financial assistance.
Mohammed Ashraf Khan, director sericulture confirmed stagnation in the sericulture sector over the last many years. We are vigorously following a program of cocoon production in the State and day is not far when the sector will outshine others, he said.
(Rising Kashmir)