Traditional silk sector starts getting back lost glory in Rajshahi

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RAJSHAHI, Sept 17, 2019 (BSS) – Montu Ali, 56, a silk farmer, is now happy
with his family members over cocoon production and its market price this
season after a long gap.

A resident of Zadunagar village under Bholahar upazila, he sold cocoon
valued at Taka 14,000 after cultivating mulberry plants on around two bigha
of land.

Montu, who is involved in the mulberry farming and cocoon production
activities for more than 35 years, said he took 150 silk eggs from the local
silk extension office free of cost and got three mounds of cocoons from the
eggs.

More than 350 farmers cultivated mulberry on 217 bigha of lands only in the
Bholahat upazila this season and produced cocoon after the best uses of the
government support. Most of them are happy with their sale-proceeds.

He said the traditional silk sector has started getting back its lost glory
in the region due to adoption of need-based and time-fitting measures
creating high hope among the peoples concerned.

Masud Reza, Assistant Director of Bholahat Silk Extension Office under
Bangladesh Silk Development Board (BSDB), said each of the farmers was given
financial support of Taka 3,000 for silk farming purposes while Taka 30,000
for building silk house.

BSDB has started elevating both the farming and industrial sides of the
silk sector for its revival. Field level promotional activities of
sericulture are progressing with the aim of bringing back its lost glory
through revitalising the sector.

It has planted mulberry trees and taking security measures for the trees.
All the stakes concerned especially the mulberry farmers are hoping of
getting back their good days in silk farming.

“Mulberry trees need trimming four times a year,” said Alauddin Mandal,
Upazila Silk Extension Officer. The leaves come out within 56 days after
trimming.

He said the silkworms kept inside houses for certain period eat mulberry
leaves. After around 40 days, the worms start to form cocoons — by spitting
out saliva around their bodies — which are then placed in bamboo frames
before being harvested.

The threads become strong when they come in contact with air. Afterwards,
the cocoons are then boiled in hot water, killing the worm inside and
separating the ultra-thin threads, which are coiled on huge bobbins and hung
out to dry.

Later, the silk thread is processed and the dried threads are sent to a
mill where workers join several threads together and put them onto looms to
make cloth.

This material is then boiled, washed and waxed before being sent to tailors
to make mostly sarees, three pieces and panjabi.

Mandal added that some areas of Charghat and Bagha upazilas in Rajshahi and
Bholahat upazila in Chapainawabgonj districts are very much popular for
mulberry production.

BSDB provides all kinds of supports to the silk farmers. About 5,000
mulberry trees were planted in five blocks of Mohanpur under Poba Circle. At
least 22 houses have been built officially for the silk farmers in the
circle.

Director General of BSDB Abdul Hakim said the government has taken
initiative to revive the silk industry. Market promotion works are also being
progressed. “We have already received order of supplying sarees for 300
airhosts,” he added.

The sericulture and silk industry, by its nature, is a family based labor-
intensive economic activity that provides employment for the rural people.

Abdul Hakim said initiative has been taken to re-launch the Rajshahi and
Thakurgaon Silk Factories fully.

Five in Rajshahi Silk Factory has already been resumed. At least 15 metric
tons of silk yearn could be manufactured along with job creation scope for
around 10,000 people if we can resume all the 58 looms in the two state-owned
factories, he added.

“Sericulture has a huge prospect if we could nurture it properly as there
is a huge potential export market for our silk,” he said.

Hakim, however, said BSDB has a plan of bringing Chinese experts to train
the local farmers that will help boosting silk production.