Gadchiroli: The Gadchiroli district Silk Office, Armori, on February 10 flagged off a ‘Reshim Rath’ as part of Mahareshim Abhiyan–2026 to promote sericulture and spread awareness about state govt schemes at the village level.District Superintendent Agriculture Officer Priti Hiralakar inaugurated the awareness vehicle, while Assistant Commissioner of Fisheries Samir Dongre was present on the occasion. Sericulture Development Officer A V Wasnik, Senior Technical Assistant G R Uike, Field Assistants A N Nakhale and C V Vitthale, along with other officials and staff, attended the launch.The campaign is being implemented across the state under the guidance of the textiles department and the sericulture directorate, Nagpur. Farmers interested in starting sericulture must register between February 10 and March 5 under the Mahareshim Abhiyan–2026.Registration is completely free for tasar silk farmers. Farmers eligible for mulberry cultivation must pay a registration fee of Rs 500 per acre and submit the required documents. A V Wasnik said sericulture, being agriculture-based, allows farmers to rear silkworms on their own land and earn directly from cocoon production. A V Wasnik said farmers can earn an estimated net profit of around Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 2 lakh per year through the activity.Under the centrally sponsored Silk Samagra–2 scheme, small and marginal farmers are eligible for a subsidy of up to Rs 3,75,000 for 1 acre of mulberry plantation, including mulberry saplings, irrigation systems, a rearing house, rearing materials, and disinfectants. Farmers from villages covered under the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojana (POCRA) can avail a subsidy of Rs 3,25,125.The district silk office, Armori, appealed to maximum farmers in Gadchiroli to take up sericulture and benefit from the available schemes. Farmers can contact the district silk office at Wadsa Road, Armori, for further details.
