In a significant move to boost farmers' income by selling products associated with agricultural allied-occupations under its own brand, the Punjab government has taken a major step towards introducing state-produced silk products to the market under its own label. During the State level silk day function at MGSIPA here, Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra launched the department's logo for silk products, marking the commencement of this initiative.
He announced that every effort would be made to double silk production in the state by the end of 2025. S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra said that sericulture is currently practiced in approximately 230 villages across the sub-mountainous districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Ropar, with 1200 to 1400 silk rearers engaged in this occupation.
He said that the state primarily produces two types of silk: bivoltine mulberry and eri silk. Annually, 1000 to 1100 ounces of mulberry silk seeds are reared, yielding 30,000 to 35,000 kgs of mulberry silk cocoons, while 200 ounces of eri silk seeds produce 5,000 to 8,000 kgs of eri silk cocoons. "This occupation is predominantly adopted by people living below the poverty line, landless individuals or those with small landholdings", said the Cabinet Minister, adding that currently, a silk rearer earns an annual income of Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000, which is considered insufficient.
Addressing the issue of fair prices for silk produce to increase farmers' income, S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra stated that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government would establish its own reeling units to process cocoons, ensuring silk farmers receive higher prices for their produce. He said that a reeling unit for converting cocoons into silk thread is being set up in Pathankot.
With operationalization this unit, the income of silk rearers can potentially increase by 1.5 to 2 times. He also mentioned the significant step of reactivating the state's sole silk seed production center in Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh) to reduce production costs and provide farmers with seeds at affordable rates.
Addressing the gathering, Special Chief Secretary (Horticulture) Mr. K.A.P. Sinha said that the state has 13 government sericulture farms and with the established infrastructure at these farms, the department's technical staff is providing necessary facilities to silk farmers, such as plantation assistance, distribution of silkworm eggs, rearing young silkworms and support for cocoon marketing.
Similarly, Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur said that sericulture in Punjab is based on the labour of underprivileged people and has significant potential for development. She elaborated on various initiatives undertaken by the Horticulture Department to develop this sector and increase silk farmers' income, which include reinitiating ericulture and efforts to produce tussar silk in the future to engage more silk farmers in the profession.
She also mentioned that the department is taking crucial steps to manufacture silk thread and ensure better prices, with the aim of creating a "Punjab Silk" brand in the future. During the event, the Cabinet Minister also honoured silk farmers from the Kandi region engaged in silk production.
The Horticulture Minister interacted with silk farmers, listened to their concerns and assured them that a silk seed production center would soon be established in the state, which will provide seeds to farmers at cost price, eliminating technical issues, transportation costs and seed deterioration problems associated with procuring seeds from other states.
The Cabinet Minister also specially honoured officials who designed the logo, which included S. Dalbir Singh, Deputy Director-cum-State Sericulture Nodal Officer; S. Lakhbir Singh, Horticulture Development Officer; Miss Meenu, Assistant Sericulture Nodal Officer and Mr. Yuvraj Singh, Phase Scheme Consultant Sericulture. A documentary film and brochure were also released during the event to encourage more people to engage in the silk industry.
Prominent amongst others who were present during the event included Mr. Mittal Ashok Bhalerao, Assistant Superintendent (Technical) Central Silk Board, New Delhi; Mr. Balwinder Singh, Assistant Director-cum-Sericulture Officer, Mukerian (Hoshiarpur); S. Avtar Singh, Sericulture Manager; S. Jaspal Singh, Superintendent Sericulture; Mrs. Ramandeep Kaur, SPO; Mrs. Shivani Chagti, SSPO and other officials and employees.