SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 19: The Autumn Silk Cocoon Auction Market for Kashmir Division commenced today at the Sericulture Complex, Srinagar, marking an important occasion for the sericulture sector and providing a platform for cocoon growers to market their produce in a transparent and competitive environment.
The market was inaugurated by Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Sericulture J&K in presence of departmental officers, cocoon growers from various districts of Kashmir Division and buyers from within and outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Autumn Silk Cocoon Auction Market reflects the department’s continued commitment towards strengthening the marketing infrastructure for silk cocoons, facilitating better linkages between cocoon growers and buyers and promoting a more organized and remunerative marketing system for the sericulture community. The participation of buyers from within and outside the Union Territory is expected to encourage healthy competition, enhance market access for local cocoon growers and contribute towards improving returns from silkworm rearing.
The auction market also provides an important opportunity for growers to bring their produce to an organized marketplace, interact directly with buyers and benefit from a transparent auction-based mechanism. The initiative forms part of the department’s broader efforts to strengthen the entire sericulture value chain, from silkworm seed production and cocoon rearing to marketing and silk production, thereby, supporting rural livelihoods and creating sustainable economic opportunities for farmers associated with the sector.
Later, Director Sericulture J&K, visited the Central Organization for Training in Sericulture (COTS) Mirgund to review the progress of Late Autumn Rearing 2026 and assess the functioning and progress of the newly established Silkworm Crop Improvement Laboratory.
During the visit, the Director took stock of the ongoing rearing activities and reviewed the research and technological interventions being undertaken to improve silkworm productivity, strengthen breeding programmes and enhance the overall performance of the sericulture sector in the Union Territory.
The visit also included a review of the construction and operationalisation of modern laboratory facilities established to strengthen research and crop improvement activities. The newly established Silkworm Crop Improvement Laboratory is intended to support scientific experimentation, breeding-related studies, evaluation of silkworm genetic material, and technology-driven interventions aimed at improving the quality and productivity of silkworm crops.
The Director emphasized the importance of translating scientific research and technological advancements into practical benefits for silkworm rearers and the wider sericulture community. He stressed the need for sustained efforts in research, germplasm conservation, breeding and the adoption of improved rearing technologies to enhance productivity, improve cocoon quality, and strengthen the competitiveness of Jammu and Kashmir’s sericulture sector.
The inauguration of the Autumn Silk Cocoon Auction Market at Srinagar, coupled with the review of ongoing rearing activities and research initiatives at COTS Mirgund, reflects the department’s integrated approach towards strengthening both the marketing and technological dimensions of sericulture. Through improved market access, scientific crop improvement, modern laboratory infrastructure, and sustained institutional interventions, the Sericulture Development Department, J&K, continues to work towards enhancing cocoon production, supporting the farming community, and advancing the growth of the sericulture sector across the Union Territory.
