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Sericulture operations to begin at Ayyampuzha

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Source : The Hindu Date : 21.06.2009

Sericulture operations to begin at Ayyampuzha

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Kerala State Sericulture Cooperative Federation (Serifed) and The Plantation Corporation of Kerala will join hands to begin sericulture operations at the latter’s plantation in Ayyampuzha.

The project will go on stream on a pilot basis on five acres of plantation land owned by the Corporation. This is the first time that Serifed and The Plantation Corporation are joining hands for a sericulture venture and it is expected to give a big boost to cocoon production in the State.

The funds for the project, with an expected investment of Rs.8 lakh, will come largely from the Union government-sponsored Rahstriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

The money will go into setting up rearing sheds, buying equipment and establishing irrigation facilities for the sericulture programme.

To attract more farmers

Meanwhile, the Ernakulam District office of Serifed hopes to draw more farmers into sericulture through a scheme of various subsidies during the ensuing season.

It was expected that the current level of prices, expected to go up further in the coming season, would be added incentive to the farmers.

Planting operations

New planting operations are undertaken during the months of June and July and the Serifed office here has invited applications from farmers for subsidies if they undertaken sericulture operations in 25 cents or more land.

Those who do not own their own land can take farms on lease for the programme, said an official of Serifed here.

If a farmer can reach up to 100 kg of cocoon production in an acre, subsidies to the tune of Rs.1 lakh is available. The subsidy amount will be available for planting, preparing rearing sheds, buying equipment, setting up irrigation facilities and for vermin compost units.

Serifed will also provide a month-long training to the new farmers, said the official.

The cocoons can be sold at the market in Perumbavoor set up by the Ernakulam District Panchayat.

Cocoons are fetching up to Rs. 195 a kg now and the price is expected to go up.

There are more than 50 sericulture farmers in the Ernakulam district now who are engaged in sericulture operations in over 50 acres.

Last year’s cocoon production stood at four tonnes and the situation is expected to improve during the current season.

Last Updated on Sunday, 21 June 2009 14:24
 


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