<span style="color: #222222;">In Jammu and Kashmir, Director Sericulture Kashmir Manzoor Ahmad Qadri today said that silk worm rearing is a highly time efficient farming activity having great benefits for the farmers.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The event was organized by the department for silk weavers to sell their produce at competitive prices.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Director said that silk rearing is the only trade where the farmers are provided incubated seeds by the department. He maintained that this farming activity is of very short period of 15 days and the gains are immediate.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He revealed that it is the only farming activity where department holds hand of rearers from procuring seeds till marketing of the produce.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said that silk worm rearing needs minimum space and needs no land or agricultural tools to get culminated.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He assured the farmers that government is committed to provide every facility to the farmers provided they are committed to continue this activity.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Elaborating on the welfare measures, the Director said that department is contemplating to extend health insurance benefits to the farmers in near future.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also said that shelf rearing is the future of silk rearing and government would provide these facilities to the farmers free of cost.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said that it enhances both quality and quantity of the produce.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Director apprised the farmers that department is ready to provide every kind of necessary assistance to the farmers.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He stated that any quantity of seed could be given to the progressive farmers and any number of farmers could be served by the department to take up this activity successfully.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The farmers were also made aware about different schemes and welfare measures offered by the department.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">They were informed that GoI also provides Rs 1.25 lakhs for construction of shelter shed for silk worm rearing.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The farmers were appealed to utilize the benefits exclusively for furthering this farming activity.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It was also informed that Grade-A crop has been given the rate of Rs 975/Kg while as Grade-B would be procured at Rs 675/Kg by the Government.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Moreover, provision for selling of Grade C and D produce by farmers to private players has been made by the department. The rate is said to be best in the market under present circumstances.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Many of the reelers, weavers and rearers also put forth their ideas and experiences during this ceremony.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">       </span><br />