Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Sep: Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi said today that, by accelerating silkworm seed production activities in the state, the department has achieved remarkable progress. In the last year, the department produced 312 metric tonnes of mulberry cocoons, 55,352 oak tussar cocoons, and 10,000 kg of eri silk cocoons, benefitting about 9,000 farming families.
He added that, since the formation of the state, the Sericulture Department had been dependent on the Central Silk Board, Government of India, for silkworm seed production, which involved heavy expenditure. However, the department has now achieved self-reliance by producing 7 lakh DFLs (disease-free layings) during the spring crop. Uttarakhand is now capable of supplying silkworm seed to other states as well.
On the directions of Minister Ganesh Joshi, the department had sent a proposal worth Rs 13.91 crore to the Central Silk Board. Approval has been granted under this proposal for the establishment of mulberry and vanya (wild silk) clusters. So far, an allocation of Rs 3 crore has been received for one mulberry and one vanya cluster, while funds for the remaining four clusters will soon be available. These clusters will provide employment opportunities to 450 families in the state and enhance farmers’ income.
Under the Rural Enterprise Acceleration Project, 300 women beneficiaries were selected in 13 districts last year, and 90,000 mulberry saplings were planted. These women are being connected with sericulture by providing training in cocoon craft and silk reeling.
In Yamkeshwar block of Pauri district, the Devbhoomi Resham Kisan Sangathan has planted mulberry trees over 300 acres, linking 600 farmers with sericulture. In the future, silk reeling and weaving activities are also planned in this area, which will generate large-scale local employment.
Under the Uttarakhand Co-operative Silk Federation, three power looms have been installed at the Growth Centre, Selaqui, starting silk saree production in the state. In 2024-25, 45,000 metres of fabric were produced. In the upcoming year 2025-26, with the support of Silk Mark of India, a “Resham Ghar” (Silk House) is proposed to be established in Dehradun. In addition, a Silk Expo will also be organised in Dehradun in September.
