KARGIL: A major thrust to transform sericulture into a commercially viable livelihood in Ladakh took center stage on Tuesday as the Central Silk Board unveiled a structured expansion plan, including the establishment of a dedicated sericulture wing under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil.
Nearly 100 officials, scientists and trained beneficiaries took part in the consultative workshop convened by the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute at Baroo Conference Hall.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon, presiding over the proceedings, credited the initiative to pledges made by the Union Textiles Ministry and vowed to enforce measures enabling commercial expansion. While handing certificates to participants of a 45-day bivoltine sericulture course, he maintained that sericulture would soon become a credible employment safeguard for Kargil’s rural population.
Authorities reiterated their adherence to the government’s commitments issued during the Ekta Event in Leh earlier this year. Executive Councilor Aga Syeed Mujtaba Mussavi assured lawful administrative cooperation, reinforcing that relevant departments would be mobilized to bring sericulture into the district’s livelihood agenda.
Dr. Sardar Singh, Director of CSR&TI Pampore, briefed attendees that the Board has been conducting trainings in Kargil since 2016, placing the region on firm ground to adopt silkworm rearing as a revenue-generating occupation. He asserted that Kargil’s climatic profile meets the statutory parameters for successful cocoon production and cited ongoing schemes under Silk Samagra-2 aimed at securing farmers’ financial protection.
Trained farmers presented cocoons raised during their recent practical sessions, pressing for continued institutional support to prevent the initiative from losing momentum. Their participation reflected growing public acceptance of the new economic avenue.
Scientist-D Gulzar Ahmad Khan disclosed that over 6,000 wild mulberry plants already exist naturally in the district, and another 5,000 saplings will be planted during the forthcoming season to expand feed availability, a prerequisite for large-scale operations. Representatives from NRLM clusters confirmed plans to incorporate sericulture as a sanctioned livelihood activity under rural missions.
Officials of KVK Kargil, University of Ladakh faculty members and district-level departments pledged full cooperation to enforce the commercial rollout. Senior scientists, entrepreneurs, NGOs and self-help groups joined stakeholders in discussing agro-based models, seri-tourism prospects and integrated farming systems.
The workshop concluded with a set of enforceable recommendations forming a roadmap for wider industrialization of sericulture in Ladakh, viewed by authorities as a crucial driver of rural income and economic growth.
