While the market has witnessed twists and turns and several sericulture households have shut down their business and shifted to other career, Quang Chau residents are still close to sericulture and have made progress in recent years....
Sericulture is one of the schemes of economic development and applied to some areas having extensive grounds such as Hung Yen city, Kim Dong. Dedicated villagers said that this career is the traditional job in the area that is not only suitable with the soil’s characteristics but also the major income source to the residents. Regardless of difficulties in price, villagers only reduce the areas and the number of silkworm’s batch but determine not to quit.
Quang Chau commune has over 300 hectares of grounds in which 150 hectare is to grow fruit tree and the remaining is to grow mulberry. Mulberry has been grown in Quang Chau for years and considered the most suitable plant and the substitute plant for less productive trees. Up till now, nearly 70% of households in the commune have invested into sericulture. The development of sericulture has been taken into account. With rich experiences, extensive grounds and suitable weather for silkworm, the commune has encouraged households to expand the scale of silkworm with the aim at developing sericulture as the major career in the commune. The villagers gain VND 2.5 million to VND 3.5 million on every 360 m2. Big businesses may get VND 40 million to VND 50 million VND. The sericulture households have two main seasons which are spring session from January to March and fall season from August to October. Each season includes 3 to 4 silkworm classes.
At the beginning of the fall season, the working atmosphere is busy amid the price of cocoon is rising. Like farming families storing abundant rice and corns in the yard, sericulture households arrange neatly mulberry wood in the corner of the kitchen and baskets of dried mulberry leaves under the metal shelter available to feed silkworms. During the time silkworms are growing, all family members are busy. Picking leaves and cleaning broad flat drying baskets need 3 to 4 people. Only when listening the rattle coming from silkworm containers, can we feel how hard the career is according to the saying “Lying to eat as farming, standing to eat as raising silkworms”. Raising silkworms is not so difficult but must be careful. Apart from feeding silkworms adequately, it is necessary to keep the containers clean and protect silkworms from diseases. That makes silkworm stay healthy and turn to beautiful cocoon and gorgeous silk.
It takes from 20 to 30 days to harvest each silkworm class, which is not so long but requires certain experiences. Silkworms go through 4 stages of development. As worms are fully grown, they are transferred to other container to spin cocoon. Out of all stages, it is the hardest when worms are growing and eating more mulberry. Worms are fed 5 to 7 times per day that requires thorough care to ensure the cocoon quality. During this process, it is forbidden to let harmful substances penetrate into silkworms. A little perfume or medicated oil can spoil all containers of silkworms. In the summer, silkworms must avoid hot wind, especially Western wind; otherwise, they will be unhealthy and affect the cocoon’s quality. In addition, the quality of mulberry leaves and larva directly make an impact on the productivity and quality of silks. Experienced people classify silkworms by age in order to have appropriate care and feed. Experience shows that silkworms are afraid of water and chemical substances and that the environment must be clean and airy, mulberry leaves must be dry and contain no residues of plant protection products.
As sericulture take less investment, short time for caring and harvesting, and production rotation is fast to gain profits, more households in Quang Chau are joining this business. Normally, sericulture people are only busy for 7 to 8 days with each class to pick up and clean leaves as well as feed worms properly. The remaining part is harvesting cocoon and taking care of mulberry. Employees can combine free time to do other work to raise income.
Previously, households in Quang Chau are growing old species and unproductive mulberries. Since 2008, thanks to assistance of Department of Science and Technology, the commune owns additional 40 hectares of VH9 mulberry. This species has big leaves, a lot of gum and higher quality and productivity than the old ones. Villagers then save time for caring mulberries and picking leaves to increase the productivity. Realizing outstanding characteristics of VH9 mulberry, households actively expand the growing area by planting branches.
In addition, cocoon price has been higher with VND 80 thousand to VND 90 thousand per kilo in 2009 that has reached VND 110 thousand this year. Consumption of cocoon is stable in recent years and sold out right after harvesting. Due to cumulative experience, the cocoon quality of villagers is always highly valued by vendors.
Shining cocoons on the racks that are being harvested by farmers promise a fruitful sericulture season. With the extensive assistance of local authorities and experiences as well as dedication of labors, it is strongly believed that sericulture of Quang Chau is following the right track for sustainable growth.
