Navin chairs meeting on procurement of cocoons

Jammu : In order to facilitate and avoid distress among Cocoon growers of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to prevailing situation of Covid-19 Pandemic, the JK Industries shall be procuring 60,000 Kg of Cocoon from Jammu division and 50,000 kg from Kashmir division of Grade A and B respectively.
The decision was taken in a meeting held here Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Navin Choudhary, at Civil Secretariat here Tuesday.
The meeting was informed that during spring rearing the expected yield of Cocoon is 2 lakh 40 thousand Kilogram approximately in J&K adding that Cocoon harvesting has started in Jammu division while in Kashmir division it is expected to start in a month.
While deliberating on the issue, Navin Choudhary said in order to discuss and consider modalities for procurement in view of outbreak of Covid-19, it is imperative that JK Industries make market intervention, as due to lockdown Cocoon buyers from outside the UT are finding it difficult to participate in Auction.
Navin Choudhary said JK Industries will procure 60,000 Kg of Cocoon from Jammu division and 50,000 kg from Kashmir division of Grade A and B quality only adding that price offered to farmers will be the same as offered last year in case of Grade A and for Grade B the average price will be considered .
Navin said due to evolving situation, it is imperative that Sericulture department brings on board the traditional buyers from within and outside the state so that the farmers could be benefited.
Director Sericulture, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri; MD, JK Industries Javaid Iqbal besides senior officers of Sericulture department attended the meeting.