Minister for Agriculture Muhammad Khalil Bandh on Monday said that it is time to transform Sericulture sector into a viable, profitable and sustainable enterprise and directed officials to start 17 seed houses to boost silkworm production in Kashmir.

The Minister made these remarks during a visit of Sericulture complex at Tulsibagh and Alochibagh.

The Minister stressed on the officers to work for achieving the target of cocoon production and raw silk production with value addition coupled with employment generation.

During the tour, Minister visited departmental Nurseries and was informed about the production capacity of saplings per year and present annual sapling production.

Minister while getting feedback about the total available mulberry wealth in the State, asked the officials to safeguard the sericulture assets across the state.

Regarding the seed sector, he was informed that there are 6 Grainages, 9 basic Seed stations and their infrastructural status.

Stressing on the employment generation potential of sericulture sector, the Bandh said that commercial silkworm rearing has to be increased.

He asked for increasing commercial silkworm rearing, rearers, sericulture villages for increasing income generation from the sale of cocoons.