Incentive for J&K mulberry cultivation

 About 14,000 cocoon rearers will be provided incentives worth Rs 35 lakh for mulberry cultivation this year. The state government had provided incentives worth Rs 27 lakh last year.

 The Central Silk Board has provided Rs 3 crore during the current year to promote cocoon production. The scheme is likely to benefit about 14,000 farmers.

 Cocoon production had increased in the Kashmir division to about 245,000 kgs from 119,000 kgs in 1995-96, Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar said during inspection of basic seed station at Mirgund, about 22 kms from here, yesterday.

 Stressing the need to revive the silk industry, the minister called for adopting latest technologies and research in the sector to meet the challenges posed by Chinese silk in the world market.