Srinagar, Dec 18: A Farmer Skill Training (FST) programme was today inaugurated by Director Sericulture Jammu and Kashmir, Ajaz Ahamd Bhat in the presence of Dr N. K. Bhatia, Director Central Sericulture Research & Training Institute, CSB, Pampore, Dr Rajesh Kumar Scientist – D & other faculty members of CSB at Manasbal.
The training is being organised by Central Silk Board at their P4 Basic Seed Farm in association with the Sericulture Development Department.
More than 50 farmers of the District Ganderbal and Bandipora are participating in the said training.
Addressing the gathering, Director Sericulture highlighted the need for regular skill up-gradation of rearers to take advantage of the latest technologies at the grassroots level in order to boost their confidence to increase the quality of Cocoon and its productivity at optimum level.
He also added in his address that concerted efforts are being made to give impetus to the sericulture and skill up-gradations as a part of the capacity-building programme for Silkworm Rearers. He informed that SKUAST and other Institutes are also being approached for organizing Sericulture training programmes of the industry for Silkworm Rearers.
Bhat said that the Sericulture department is focusing on addressing critical areas for the promotion of the Jammu & Kashmir Silk Industry and there is a need to fully train the stakeholders in this direction.
He also laid stress on resource utilisation and identifying the problems at ground level and called the farmers to fully interact with the Scientists during this training programme.