The College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), in collaboration with Government Degree College (GDC) Awantipora on Monday organized a One-Day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme on “Sericulture as a Low-Investment, High-Returns Venture.” The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, and aimed to enlighten students on the economic viability and entrepreneurial potential of sericulture as a business venture with relatively low start-up costs but promising returns. The programme attracted an overwhelming number of students from various semesters, all eager to learn from seasoned experts in the field.
Prof. Abdal Ahmad Bhat welcomed the guest speakers and led the programme’s proceedings. In his opening remarks, he underscored the importance of exploring diverse career pathways, particularly in sectors that align with sustainable development and rural economic growth. He emphasized that sericulture has the potential to provide steady income streams and contribute significantly to the agrarian economy of Kashmir.
The programme featured three renowned resource persons, each delivering an insightful presentation covering different aspects of sericulture as a business. These sessions offered students an in-depth understanding of the industry and practical insights into establishing sericulture-based ventures.
The first presentation was delivered by Dr. Mushtaq Rasool Mir, Professor and Head of Basic Science and Humanities at the College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund, SKUAST-K. His talk, titled “Intercropping in Mulberry: Economic and Employment Generation,” focused on the practice of intercropping in mulberry cultivation, which is an integral part of sericulture. Dr. Mushtaq explained how intercropping mulberry with other crops not only enhances land utilization but also boosts income, providing a dual source of revenue for sericulture entrepreneurs. He discussed potential crops suitable for intercropping and shared data on employment generation through this method. Following his presentation, Dr. Mushtaq engaged the students in a lively question-and-answer session, addressing their queries about practical applications and the benefits of intercropping.
The second session was led by Dr. Irfan Latief, Professor of Basic Science and Humanities, who delved into “Sericulture as an Entrepreneurial Venture.” Dr. Latief presented a comprehensive overview of the sericulture industry, highlighting its economic viability for aspiring entrepreneurs. He discussed the lifecycle of silkworms, the requirements for sericulture farming, and the high market demand for silk products. Dr. Latief also covered the various stages of silk production, from rearing to reeling, and the potential for creating a profitable enterprise through a small initial investment. He provided examples of successful sericulture businesses and emphasized the role of innovation and value addition in maximizing profits in this field.
The final speaker of the day was Dr. Iqra Akbar, Assistant Professor of Basic Science and Humanities, who presented on “Entrepreneurship Development” and the array of career opportunities in sericulture. Dr. Akbar highlighted the diverse career pathways available, not only in silkworm farming and silk production but also in research, marketing, and business development within the sericulture sector. She shared insights on how students could leverage their academic knowledge to develop a viable business plan and emphasized the growing demand for silk, both domestically and internationally.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Abdal Ahmad Bhat. He expressed his gratitude to the resource persons for their thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating presentations and thanked them for collaborating with GDC Awantipora in this valuable initiative.
