Gorakhpur (IANS)| Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the aim of the government is to increase the income of farmers manifold. In the direction of prosperity and happiness of the farmers, we have to make the state the leading state of the country. Along with traditional farming, silkworm rearing can become an excellent medium to increase the income of farmers by two to two and a half times. CM Yogi was addressing the farmers and the gathering after inaugurating the silk agriculture fair organized at Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium on Thursday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister dedicated and laid the foundation stone of 18 Chaki rearing buildings, 36 community buildings and 9 threading machine sheds at a cost of Rs 11.38 crore. Along with this, the grant amount was distributed to the beneficiaries for the silkworm rearing house.
In a program organized by Directorate of Silk Uttar Pradesh and Research Extension Center, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, CM Yogi said, “We need to plan according to the possibilities for development. It has its own uniqueness. Apart from being the largest state in the country’s population, it is also the state that produces the most food grains. The country’s total cultivable land is only 12 percent here, but UP contributes 20 percent to the country’s total food grain production. It represents the potential of Uttar Pradesh, its soil fertility, its water resources. There are 9 climatic zones in Uttar Pradesh. Different crops grow here at different times.”
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes that India cannot be made prosperous without increasing the income of food providers. To increase the income of food giver, efforts will have to be made to increase per capita income. New methods have to be adopted. In this sequence, we are moving towards natural farming. He suggested the farmers to plant mulberry on their farm ridges to earn additional income. Take care of him for five years. After this, you can increase your income by opening a silkworm rearing center at home with mulberry leaves. He said that by joining silkworm rearing, farmers can earn additional income ranging from Rs 80 thousand to Rs 1.25 lakh in one acre of land.
The Chief Minister said that there is a requirement of 3000 tonnes of silk in UP, but the production is only 350 tonnes. From this point of view, UP is such a big market for silk producers. Here, every person tries to bid farewell to his daughter by wearing a Varanasi silk saree in her marriage. There are Banarasi sarees ranging from 45 thousand to 2.5 lakh on the stall of the fair. This is an example of a thriving silk market. In such a situation, farmers can convert their resolution of self-reliance into achievement by joining silk production.
The Chief Minister said that the government has made good efforts regarding silk production in the state. According to the climatic zone, the land in the Terai region of Nepal has been found most suitable. Presently 60 tonnes of silk is produced in four districts of Gorakhpur division. The government is standing with the farmers here to realize their potential, this production can be up to 600 tonnes. He said that by increasing production, we can stop silk coming from China. For this, attention has to be paid to technology, training and innovation. Apart from encouraging the silk producing farmers, the government is also connecting them with training and technology.
CM Yogi said that ten days back PM Modi has announced PM Mitra Mega Textile Park for Hardoi. Everyone will get the benefit of this mega park to be built on 11-1200 acres.
Rakesh Sachan, Minister of MSME, Khadi, Village Industries, Silk, Handloom and Textiles Department said that consumption of silk is very high in Uttar Pradesh. Three thousand tonnes of silk is consumed in Varanasi whereas silk is not produced there. He said that to increase the production and supply of silk in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has entered into an agreement with the Karnataka government. In Karnataka, 1.25 lakh tonnes of cocoon and 80 thousand tonnes of silk thread are made. As per the agreement, the weavers here have got original silk from Karnataka.
On this occasion, Dr. Navneet Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary, Silk Development Department, highlighting the objectives of the event, said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has special attention on increasing the income of farmers. This silk agriculture fair is an effort to make farmers aware and give them an option to earn additional income. He informed that silk production is being done in 57 districts of UP. After scientific study, it has now been targeted to increase silk production intensively in 31 climate-friendly districts. So far, silk production has been increasing only on agricultural farms, now efforts are being made to take it to the common farmers. Farmers can also do silkworm rearing along with their farming. It is a very profitable crop. He informed that a silk exchange has also been opened in Varanasi to promote silk business.
–IANS
