Jammu and Kashmir, sericulture remains far more than an industry—it’s a vital lifeline. This time-honored practice of silkworm rearing and silk production supports thousands of families, embedding economic security into rural communities. However, the Omar Abdullah-led government’s recent proposal to repurpose prime sericulture land in Srinagar’s Rambagh and Alochibagh for residential flats and VIP quarters endangers this essential sector. As stakeholders voice strong protests and political leaders voice opposition, the administration must halt and prioritize preservation over rushed development. We call for prudent governance that safeguards sericulture’s irreplaceable contribution to farmer empowerment and the Union’s economy.
Sericulture in J&K is vibrant and productive today. The region maintains around 7 lakh mulberry trees across Jammu and Kashmir divisions, yielding about 800 metric tons of cocoons annually. This sustains employment for lakhs of people—from rearers to weavers—and creates four lakh man-days of work each year. The lands at issue are central: Alochibagh houses the Sericulture Development Department’s key facilities, including modern grainages, cocoon warehouses, auction markets, and mulberry nurseries. Recent commitments, like the ₹3.21 crore modern silkworm seed center allocated in Alochibagh last November, highlight its transformative potential. Rambagh supports mulberry cultivation critical for premium bivoltine silk that meets global benchmarks. Initiatives such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme and Silk Samagra have driven positive growth in cocoon yields. Converting these fertile, infrastructure-equipped parcels would disrupt this progress and deepen unemployment in a vulnerable economy.
What drives this decision? Advocates point to an urgent housing shortage for bureaucrats, officials, and politicians, amid longstanding delays in new colony development. The Estates Department’s plan revives a 2018 order to address urban pressures. Yet critics, including Awami Ittehad Party MLA Sheikh Khursheed, condemn it as misplaced priorities and a form of land grab favoring political interests. With ongoing investments in sericulture revival—supported by NABARD and the Prime Minister’s Special Package—why dismantle job-creating assets for luxury accommodations? This approach appears shortsighted, particularly as mulberry trees already face losses from encroachments and climate challenges.
Better paths exist: identify underused urban sites, implement fair and transparent housing allotments, or pursue sustainable designs that avoid agricultural cores. Protests by sericulture workers today at Alochibagh reflect deep distress; dismissing them could spark wider discontent. We urge Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately stop any demarcation, order an independent audit of these lands’ productivity, and initiate meaningful stakeholder consultations. Sericulture is not disposable—it’s the delicate thread binding J&K to shared prosperity. Protect it, lest the socioeconomic fabric of the Union unravels.
