HYDERABAD, Dec 2: The provincial secretary for forests, wildlife and environment, Shamsul Haq Memon stressed the need for the development of the cottage industry and added that the government should support the women in the field of sericulture with a view to increasing their income.

He was presiding over a meeting at the directorate of sericulture on Saturday.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the sericulture department.

Mr Memon said that in Japan, Russia, China, and North Korea, sericulture had been given the status of industry, and added that these countries were earning huge foreign exchange through the export of silk.

He pointed out that in rural areas less opportunities existed for employment.

He said in the under-developed areas people could opt for sericulture which did not require huge investment.

He said it had been proved that more profit could be earned through the development of sericulture when compared to the traditional cash crops.

He instructed the director sericulture to encourage the people of the rural areas to go for sericulture as this would stop the migration of the rural population to urban areas and the poor people, especially the women, would be able to generate handsome income.

The director, Sericulture, Sindh, Abid Ali Khan, informed the meeting that the breeding of silk worms at the Miani Forest sericulture station was going full speed and research on various types of mulberries was also being conducted in the Miani Forest, Khipro, Mirpur Mathelo, and Naukot. He further said that efforts were also being made to import silk worm eggs and set up mulberry nurseries as well as establishing exhibition centres for silk reeling and weaving.

ARMY RECRUITMENT: The army recruitment team will visit the Mithi Municipal Committee on Dec 3, Umerkot Town Committee on Dec 4 and 5, Badin Municipal Committee on Dec 10 and Mirpurkhas Municipal committee on Dec 12.