Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, September 21-
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, Cabinet minister 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.
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.