Silk seed production centre to come up at Thunag

A boost to farmers’ income

— Seraj valley is famous for tourist activity as well as production of apple crop. However, production of apple and other fruit crops depends on weather conditions, which sometimes get affected because of nature calamities like drought and hailstorm.

— The state government is giving thrust to provide alternate source of income to the famers of the district and engage them in sericulture activities.

— Currently, 2,000 farmers of Seraj valley are associated with sericulture in the district.

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 19

To promote sericulture in Mandi district, the state government is setting up a silk seed production centre at a cost of Rs 2 crore at Thunag under Seraj assembly segment of Mandi district soon. The sericulture department here has identified a tract of forest land at Thunag for the building, where the centre will be set up.

Seraj valley is famous for tourist activity as well as production of apple crop. However, production of apple and other fruit crops depends on weather conditions, which sometimes get affected because of nature calamities like drought and hailstorm. The state government is giving thrust to provide alternate source of income to the famers of the district and engage them in sericulture activities.

Currently, 2,000 farmers of Seraj valley have been associated with sericulture in the district. They were waiting desperately for the silk seed production centre at Thunag so that they can avail the facility and supplement their income.

Doctor Arvind Bhardwaj, Sericulture Officer at Balichowki in Mandi district, told The Tribune, “The department has indentified a tract of forest land at Thunag, where the building will come up. We have taken up the matter with panchayat concerned to give its nod for the purpose. Thereafter, a report will be submitted to the state government for forest clearance.”

Bhardwaj said the state government was setting up silk industry at Bagachnogi, which will increase the demand of silk produce. This would play a crucial role in improving the economy of farmers in the area.

“The department is making efforts to motivate farmers to adopt sericulture as an alternate source of income to sustain their economy. The efforts are proving fruitful as till now around 2,000 farmers have associated themselves with sericulture in the Seraj area”, he added.

Bhardwaj said that there was a proposal to set up new silk centres at Bagachnogi, Saroa,Dharot, Murah, and Deemkatru under Seraj assembly segment. Farmers of district should come forward to take the advantage of sericulture to boost their income.