Maharashtra’s Parbhani district is set to launch an innovative ‘Silk & Milk’ pilot project aimed at creating sustainable rural livelihoods by integrating sericulture (silk farming) with dairy farming, enabling farmers to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on traditional agriculture. The initiative, announced by Meghana Sakore Bordikar, Minister of State and Guardian Minister of Parbhani, will form part of a broader proposed ₹1,500 crore Parbhani Growth Hub, which seeks to promote agro-processing, entrepreneurship and rural employment while curbing migration from the Marathwada region. (LinkedIn)
The ‘Silk & Milk’ model combines mulberry cultivation for silkworm rearing with dairy farming, creating synergies where crop residues can support livestock feeding and dairy manure can enhance soil fertility, helping improve farm productivity and year-round income stability. The pilot builds on Maharashtra’s ongoing efforts to promote integrated farming systems that enhance resource efficiency, strengthen climate resilience and generate sustainable livelihoods for small and marginal farmers. Industry observers believe that if successfully implemented, the initiative could serve as a scalable model for combining high-value agriculture with dairy development, supporting farmer incomes while advancing rural economic growth across the state. (Agrowon – Agriculture News)
Source: Dairynews7x7 20 July, 2026 Read full story here
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