author(s)
Bharath Kumar Neelaboina, Gulzar Ahmad Khan, Mudasir Gani, Shakeel Ahmad, Mir Nisar Ahmad and MK Ghosh

abstract
Due to rapid urbanisation, sericulture in the state of Jammu & Kashmir has been restricted to higher peripheral areas only. For horizontal expansion of sericulture in the state, it is inevitable to introduce sericulture in unexplored areas. In this direction a study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of sericulture in Kargil area of Ladakh division, J&K. Trial rearing of silkworm double hybrid (FC2 x FC1) obtained from SSPC, Vijayapura, Bangalore was reared at village shilikchey, Kargil during 2017 (July- August) as a part of the 45 days Intensive Bivoltine Training programme to tribal farmers of Kargil conducted by Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSR&TI), Central Silk Board, Pampore, J&K. Prior to this, a trial rearing was also conducted at Kargil in village Poyen during 2016 (June-August). The rearing results were encouraging to the scientific community for introducing the sericulture in Kargil. The rearing results revealed that hatching percentage was 80.32% during 2016 and 98.15% during 2017. In 2016 and 2017 double hybrid recorded total yield of 22.13 Kg/50 Dfls and 37.76 Kg/50 Dfls respectively. In 2016, Single Cocoon Weight (SCW) and Single Shell Weight (SSW) recorded as 1.60g and 0.30g whereas in 2017, Single Cocoon Weight (SCW) and Single Shell Weight (SSW) recorded as 1.72g and 0.38g. In 2016 and 2017 Shell Ratio (SR) recorded as 18.75% and 22.09% respectively. The present results indicate that by maintaining proper hygiene and feeding quality leaf the cocoon productivity in Kargil region can be at par with the other regions of the Country.