Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government under the centrally sponsored schemes is planning to upgrade the fruit bearing mulberry plants to provide an opportunity to the budding youth to become a part time entrepreneur with an integrated approach.
The Sericulture Department has also reviewed the plantation of rear breed of “Shahtul” which was on the verge of extinction and about 100 trees have been planted at the Mirgund nursery located on picturesque Tangmarg road in north Kashmir, Deputy Director Sericulture Department Khursheed Ahmad told UNI.
A few years back, the Department of Sericulture was only focusing on the production of Mulberry leaves for increasing cocoon production in the valley, but with the special schemes introduced by the central government, the authorities are now taking initiative to increase the production of mulberry fruit also, he added.
He said that the Mulberry fruit is gaining the market and it would be a helpful business for the budding youth entrepreneurs of the valley.
He said the department of Sericulture is increasing the quantum so that youth could participate in it and earn their livelihood.
Khursheed said last year the department made about 100 “Shahtul” trees which were on the verge of extinction and that are being looked into. The Shahtul harvesting usually takes place during the month of September-October.
He said there are a number of mulberry varieties including Shahtul, Chatatul, Zagtul, Botatul and Brentul in Kashmir. However, they are not being openly marketed so far, but the new initiatives would explore its existence in the markets.
He said so far the main attraction of the Mulberry tree was the leaves that are being used for the production of insect silk worms to produce silk.
Kashmir valley is home of different varieties of Mulberry. The trees not only bear fruit but the leaves provide food to insect Silkworm that helps them to produce silk, Khursheed said.
The production of Mulberry fruit in the largest Mulberry nursery at Mirgund spread over 900 kanals of land about 50 hectares that includes fruit bearing Mulberry trees on about 10 kanals.
The fruit production is double the previous year following good climatic conditions, he said.
The Sericulture Department this year sold more than 10 quintals of Mulberry fruit to a foreign entrepreneur Cris Zandee of Holland who is running a unit “Himalayan products” of Shalimar Srinagar, Khursheed said.
He said Zandee has been purchasing Mulberry fruit from the department for the past several years for making Jam and Jelly to the Mulberry fruit and exporting that to Holland and other places, Khursheed said.
He said the department is selling a Kg of Mulberry for Rs 20 on the tree and the buyer has to bear the labour and cultivation charges.
The Deputy Director said this year so far 10 to 12 quintals of Mulberry have been harvested compared to the last year of 7 to 8 quintals.