Technological Interventions to Strengthen Sericulture in J&K (HADP Project 7)

What is HADP Project 7 on sericulture?

Technological Interventions to Strengthen Sericulture in J&K is the seventh of the 29 projects cleared under the all-round Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the Rs 5,013 crore five-year package of the Agriculture Production Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It is delivered by the Sericulture Development Department, which runs the union territory's schemes both under UT CAPEX and under centrally sponsored programmes.

The central vehicle is Silk Samagra, the integrated silk development scheme of the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles. Silk Samagra-1 has been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and Silk Samagra-2 is now being rolled out. The stated target is 1,500 tonnes of quality bivoltine cocoons, enough for 210 tonnes of quality raw silk, pursued through a cluster approach in both divisions.

Each approved cluster project under Silk Samagra-2 is expected to increase mulberry plantation wealth in the project area, raise the intake capacity of silkworm seed at farmer level, improve cocoon production and productivity, generate employment, and build the capacity of all stakeholders.

On the Kisan Sathi portal, Project 7 carries three activity forms: development of mulberry plantation at stakeholder level, construction of a rearing house of 460 square feet, and establishment of silk reeling units.

Who is eligible for HADP Project 7?

Beneficiary selection under this project is unusually specific. According to the implementation guidelines:

You can be selected if:

• You are a bona fide rearer enrolled with the Sericulture Development Department through the Zonal or Circle Sericulture Officer for your area.
• You have been practising sericulture continuously. The longest period as a cocoon grower is weighed alongside production parameters.
• You hold land available for mulberry plantation; both the land holding and the number of mulberry plants you already have are considered.
• You are a woman beneficiary, or a low-income, BPL, SC or ST applicant, these categories are given preference.
• For a rearing house, you have conducted silkworm rearing continuously for at least the last eight years.

You cannot apply, or are not eligible, if:

• You are not enrolled as a rearer with the department. Enrolment through the Zonal or Circle Sericulture Officer is the gateway to every component.
• You are unwilling to sign the agreement and furnish the Rs 100 judicial affidavit undertaking 10 further years of plantation maintenance and rearing.
• You have already availed the same benefit under another scheme, HADP bars duplication of activities.
• You are seeking the grainage building, the Chawki Rearing Centres in the public sector or the post-cocoon reeling infrastructure with CATD facility as a personal cash benefit; these are institutional components.

New rearers are not shut out. Where a project area is new, or where every existing rearer has already availed the scheme, a fresh rearer may be taken up: subject to approval by the Additional Director Sericulture of the division on the recommendation of the district level committee.

What are the conditions on mulberry plantation assistance?

• The beneficiary must keep pits of 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft ready 10 to 15 days before the plantation programme, with photographic or video evidence reported by the Zonal or Circle officer in advance.
• Rs 5 per mulberry plant is collected from the beneficiary in advance by the DDO and remitted as revenue.
• The beneficiary share is taken as a labour component for carriage of plants and allied works.
• Plantation should be raised on tree mode, preferably in cluster mode, as near as possible to the rearing house.
• Assistance is paid in two instalments through DBT only, each released after the related works are completed and verified.
• Gap filling up to 40 per cent is allowed free of plant cost; beyond 40 per cent the beneficiary deposits Rs 5 per plant. No monetary benefit is paid for gap filling.
• If the beneficiary fails to maintain the plantation or conduct rearing, the entire amount is recovered with 5 per cent interest on the assistance amount of Rs 15,000.

What are the conditions on a rearing house?

• The rearing house is Model II, 460 square feet, built to approved design.
• Construction must begin immediately on the individual sanction letter from the DDO and be completed within six months.
• The house must stand away from dwelling houses to avoid contamination and disease, with floor and inside walls plastered.
• It must allow temperature and humidity control, be made air-tight for disinfection, have cleaning arrangements, and accommodate three or four tiers of rearing racks.
• The beneficiary must undertake, by agreement and affidavit, to continue rearing for at least 10 more years, and must rear a minimum of two ounces of crop per year.
• Assistance is given in instalments through DBT by the DDO, each released only after verification by the designated departmental committee.
• If rearing stops before the prescribed period, the amount or material is recovered after a 15-day notice from the Zonal or Circle officer.

What other support does the project provide?

• Rearing appliances: rearers are supplied a set including a GI tub for disinfection solution, knapsack sprayer, solar lantern, rearing shelf stand, rearing mats, thermometer, iron sigries, bed cleaning nets, branch cutter, leaf carrying crates and plastic collapsible mountages.
• Mulberry Chawki Rearing Centres (CRCs) — each serves 70 to 100 farmers, built to 42 ft x 30 ft to rear 5,000 DFLs per batch, with a building cost of Rs 12 lakh; a provision of Rs 1,200 lakh covers 100 CRCs, along with a chawki garden and equipment.
• Grainage building, a 10,000 square foot facility for commercial silkworm seed production, costing Rs 300 lakh including equipment.
• Post-cocoon sector strengthening; Rs 200 lakh for latest reeling machinery with Computer Aided Textile Designing (CATD) facility, covering reeling, twisting, weaving, dyeing and printing.

How to apply for HADP Project 7

1. Enrol as a rearer with the Zonal or Circle Sericulture Officer for your area if you are not already on the department's rolls.
2. Register on the Kisan Sathi portal at hadp.jk.gov.in with your mobile number and Aadhaar details.
3. Log in and open Project 7 to Technological Interventions to Strengthen Sericulture in J&K, then choose Development of Mulberry Plantation at Stakeholders Level, Construction of Rearing House (460 Sq Ft), or Establishment of Silk Reeling Units.
4. Enter your rearing history, land holding, existing mulberry plants and average cocoon production for the last three to five years.
5. Upload Aadhaar, bank passbook, land record and the affidavit format required for the activity.
6. Submit and note the application reference number.
7. Complete the physical work, dig the pits, raise the plantation, or build the rearing house within six months, and let the designated committee verify each stage. Instalments are released through DBT only.

How do I check my application status?

1. Log in to hadp.jk.gov.in with the mobile number you registered.
2. Check the applicant dashboard for the stage of each application.
3. For instalment queries, contact the DDO of your sericulture circle, since instalments are released by the DDO after committee verification.

Why sericulture applications get rejected

• Not enrolled as a bona fide rearer with the Sericulture Development Department.
• Fewer than eight years of continuous rearing, for a rearing house claim.
• Pits not ready or no photographic evidence submitted before the plantation programme.
• Affidavit not furnished or not attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate.
• Rearing house not completed within six months, or not built to the approved design and disinfection standard.
• Duplication of a benefit already availed under Silk Samagra or another scheme.

Where do I raise a complaint?

• Use the Grievance link on hadp.jk.gov.in and track it under Grievance Status.
• Approach your Zonal or Circle Sericulture Officer, then the Additional Director Sericulture of your division.
• Contact the Agriculture Production Department at 0191-2505201 (Jammu) or devagri-jk@jk.gov.in.

All payments under this project run through DBT to the rearer's own account. No official or agent is entitled to a cut of a sericulture instalment.