Punjab Sericulture Farmers, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Sericulture Farmers, Landless Farmers Punjab: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is continuously working to diversify the farming sector of the state. By diversifying the farming sector in Punjab, CM Bhagwant Mann is not only spreading awareness among farmers but also making sure that their income increases with time. While the Bhagwant Mann Government has taken multiple steps to increase the income of traditional farmers of Punjab, the Punjab CM has also paid attention to landless farmers. For landless farmers, the Bhagwant Mann government has made a push in sericulture.
The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government is promoting businesses like sericulture and agriculture to strengthen the livelihood of farmers. While the doors of employment are opening up for the youth, the livelihood of landless farmers has also been strengthened.
The Sericulture Department buys silkworm cocoons from the Central Silk Board. These silkworms are kept in a special place. After which they are given to the farmers for regeneration, these silkworms produce cocoons. Farmers earn huge profits by selling this 2-month-old cocoon to traders from other states. Poor farmers are happy with this as the department has completely shifted focus to agriculture and horticulture under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Now, the demands of the silk-culture farmers are being heard and due to timely cocoon availability and other schemes, many farmers are now joining this business.
Training and subsidy to silk producers in Punjab
Sericulture/silk production is a subsidiary business mainly carried on by the rural and poor-class farmers in the secondary area (Districts Gurdaspur, Thankot, Hoshiarpur, and Raipur). Silk is an expensive, flexible, and natural silk. Silkworms produce silk with hard work. Under the silk culture schemes, the government provides subsidies for various activities like plantation, insect running house, rearing equipment training, solar visits, etc.
Apart from this, camps are organised by the government to make farmers aware of silk production from time to time. The silk trade is growing in Punjab due to the policies of the Bhagwant Mann government. Many initiatives are being taken by the government to promote this work. Silk production activities are prevalent in areas like Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and District Rupnagar. These are controlled through two divisions Sundaram and Mukerian.
Around 1200 farmers are engaged in the silk industry
At present, there are a total of 13 government silk production farms in Punjab which are producing mulberry and eri silk. The state produces 25-30 thousand Jilongam silk reeling cocoons. Around 1200 farmers in the state are engaged in silk production activities.
To connect more and more farmers to silk production, the Government of Punjab is trying to start a silk reeling unit in the Pathankot district. With the establishment of this unit, the cocoon production will be doubled and silk will be developed in a single bond. Various measures are being taken by the government to promote silk production in Punjab. Silk seeds and financial assistance are being provided to small farmers and state-level fairs are being organized to connect more and more farmers to this subsidiary business.