Sericulture and silk production in Nepal has more than Twenty-five years old history.Nepali Silk is the product of Bi-voltine Silk worm available in sub-tropical hilly region which has high quality in compare to multi-voltine that available in tropical region. Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk. The major activities of sericulture comprises of food-plant cultivation to feed the silkworms which spin silk cocoons and reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament for value added benefits such as processing and weaving.
SILKWORM IN NEPAL
For the first time in Nepal , Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher in 1911A.D introduced mulberry sericulture. At that time by using multivoltine Indian silk worm sericulture was experimented in Birganj with the help of a sericulture specialist from India. In 1940, Another Rana Prime Minister Judha Shamsher organized exhibition on silkworm rearing for second time with help of Indian sericulture specialist in Kathmandu. mulberry saplings were planted in Godawari in 1950 . Cottage Industry Department initiated sericulture within the compound of the department in 1953-54. At the time silkworm seed was imported from India. In 1967-68 A pre feasibility study was made which was followed by general feasibility studies carried out by Japanese experts in the year 1969 and the experts of Republic of Korea in 1973. These studies suggested that Nepal has potential for sericulture development, especially the high-yielding bivoltine cocoons and raw silk of international quality. In 1989, the agro-climatic conditions of Nepal were studied by two Korean and one Indian FAO experts , they studied existing mulberry varieties, silkworm egg supply, reeling facilities and other infrastructure. They suggested suitable technologies, infrastructure for applied research, and multiplication of silkworm breeds, reeling machinery’s, technical manpower and training. In 1998 UNDP has launched Sericulture for Rural Development Program through cluster-pocket area approach with four clusters in 7 districts viz. Palpa, Syanga, Dhading, Chitwan, Kavre, Kathmandu and Ilam. Similarly DANIDA is supporting to JMC-Nepal and the project goal is poverty reduction. They are working in Makawanpur and Tanahun districts. Besides these initiatives, many other (I)NGOs are involved for social and economic empowerment of women, poverty reduction, sustainable viable livelihood opportunity, control land degradation, landslides control through mulberry plantation and environment care through sericulture farming. The agro climatic conditions of 38 Districts of the Central Midlands of the Mid Hills altitude ranging from 750 to about 1500 metre, the slopes and valleys between the Mahabharat range and Shiwalik ranges (Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys) are very suitable for sericulture. The low lands of Terai and the inner Terai (Dang and Chitwan valleys) ranging from 100 to 750 metre are ideally suited for the development of the sericulture industry in Nepal. It has been proved by different studies that were carried out in co-operation with KOICA, JICA and FAO that the agro- climatic conditions of Nepal are very suitable.
5 interesting facts about Silk ……..Did You Know?
- Silk has much lower density than cotton, wool and nylon. Silk can absorb moisture up to one third of its own weight without feeling damp.
- Silk cocoons consist of a single raw fibre which is approximately 1 km long.
- Mulberry silk worms feed exclusively on Mulberry leaves.
- The finest quality mulberry silk comes from silk worm type known as Bombyx Mori that means “mulberry tree silk caterpillar”
- Silk textile strength is as strong as steel, making silk the strongest natural fiber in the world – 30 times stronger than cotton!