JAMMU: Livelihood of over 6,000 families in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir depends on sericulture.
These families produced 1.87 lakh kilogram silk last year, generating an income of Rs 2.9 crore, an official spokesman said.
To boost the production, the Sericulture department has distributed 7,100 ounces of silkworm seed among 6,236 rearing families, this year, he said adding, two cocoon market sheds have been constructed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes at Sunderbani and Nowshera in the district.
"2,825 rearing families have been provided assistance for construction of rearing houses, 2,550 families were provided rearing equipments, training camps were also organized for 600 farmers," he said.
He said the Rajouri district occupies top position in cocoon production in the state with its 20 mulberry nurseries in the district having production of 1.50 lakh mulberry saplings.
Besides, the farmers of the district have planted one lakh mulberry saplings under various schemes including MNREGA and RKVY during 2015-16, he said.