<span style="color: #222222;">In Jammu and Kashmir, as part of various initiatives to support the rearing families during the current pandemic, the Sericulture Department has arranged Cocoon Marketing in association with industries for cocoon growers across the UT.<br />'' <br />'' AIR correspondent reports that due to non-participation of Cocoon buyers from outside J&K, the bold decision taken by Principal Secretary of Agriculture Production Department Navin Choudhary, for making arrangements has proved to be a boost for the cocoon rearing families and others associated with the trade. As part of this programme, the Department has so far been able to provide Marketing facilities for Cocoon growers of Udhampur, Kathua, Jammu & Reasi districts in which 117 Metric Tonnes Cocoon has been procured valuing 3.19 crore rupees enabling the farmers to get handsome returns of their produce.<br />''<br />''Presently, the marketing is going on in district Rajouri following standard SOPs prescribed for protection against COVID. The Department will also be arranging marketing facilities for the cocoon growers of Kashmir Division in the coming days after completion of the procurement process in Jammu Division. The farmers have appreciated and are satisfied by this endeavor and demanded for procuring more crops and covering a large number of their counterparts through these arrangements.</span>