PAMPORE (J&K) — In a quiet laboratory nestled in the Kashmir valley, silkworms are spinning cocoons using genetic material sourced from nearly 3,000 kilometers away in Southern India.
During a visit to the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) in Pampore on Tuesday, a visiting 13-member media delegation from Kerala discovered an unexpected cross-country partnership: basic seed stock from the Palakkad Seed Centre in Kerala is currently being utilized for advanced research aimed at boosting India’s high-altitude silk yield.
The discovery came during the second day of a seven-day exposure tour organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kochi, aimed at highlighting developmental and scientific projects across Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to the journalists, Dr. Irfan Illahi, Scientist-D at CSRTI Pampore, outlined the critical role inter-regional research linkages play in strengthening the national textile ecosystem. While tropical states like Kerala contribute essential seed varieties, Kashmir houses India's only dedicated temperate sericulture institute, giving the region a strategic monopoly on temperate silk research and production.
"India is currently the world's second-largest producer of silk, but our domestic demand continues to outstrip supply," Dr. Illahi told the delegation. "To close this gap and position India as the top global silk producer, we are aggressively expanding our farmer network and integrating research inputs from across the country, including specialized facilities like Palakkad."
Beyond high-tech breeding and research, the institute is pioneering "seritourism"—a novel initiative designed to merge educational awareness of silk production with Kashmir's thriving tourism sector. Visitors will soon be able to experience the complete journey of silk, from mulberry cultivation to cocoon harvesting, alongside traditional sightseeing.
The delegation also visited the institute's historical museum and the P4 Basic Seed Farm near Manasbal Lake, where scientists demonstrated the multi-stage process of silkworm egg production under temperate climatic conditions.