Silkworm farmers in Nghe An are excited as cocoon prices increase

These days, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mo, Xuan Chau hamlet, Dien Kim commune (Dien Chau) is busy with the work of picking mulberries to raise silkworms with the joy of getting a good price.

Mrs. Mo was excited: At this time, the price of cocoons has increased to 10,000 VND/kg, so each batch of silkworms also helps people earn an additional 1 - 2 million VND compared to before.

The growth cycle of a silkworm is 26 days to harvest one batch of cocoons, each year people raise about 9 batches. Photo: Quang An

Currently, Dien Kim people are focusing on raising silkworms to produce white cocoons, which are of high economic value with a price of 110,000 VND/kg, higher than in 2017 (from 90,000 - 100,000 VND/kg).

Mr. Nguyen Van Truong, Tien Tien 1 hamlet, Dien Kim commune, happily said: Because the price of cocoons has increased, the price of pure silk (the highest quality silk) has also increased. Currently, pure white silk costs about 1 million VND/kg, 200,000 VND/kg higher than before.

With this price, each batch of silkworms (26-day cycle), farmers can earn from 5 to 10 million VND, depending on the size of each family. After the cold spell ends, farmers will switch to producing golden cocoons.

The price of pure white silk is currently around 1 million VND/kg and is always "out of stock" due to the scarcity in the market. Photo: Quang An

In particular, the output of silk cocoons is very favorable, the product has a purchasing agent in the commune and can be imported to facilities nationwide at a higher price.

Mr. Ngo Tri Vong, Hoang Chau hamlet, Dien Kim, a long-time silk producer and trader, said: The price of cocoons has increased because the domestic and foreign markets are in need of a large quantity of goods during this time. Moreover, this is the season of white cocoons, the output is not as much as yellow cocoons, so we import everything that people make.

White cocoons dried in the sun for 2-3 days will create pure white silk, this is the highest quality product, favored by the market. Photo: Quang An

Thanks to a more stable output compared to the production of other agricultural products, Dien Kim commune has converted low-yield fertile land to mulberry cultivation, from 40 hectares in 2010 to about 70 hectares in 2018.

Mr. Pham Xuan Bang - Chairman of Dien Kim Commune People's Committee said: Dien Kim is the only locality with the profession of growing mulberry and raising silkworms in Dien Chau with about 120 households doing it. Currently, the price of cocoons and silk is on the rise, so the locality is trying to create conditions to encourage people to stick with the profession, because this profession not only solves the problem of employment but also preserves the long-standing tradition of our ancestors.

Dien Kim farmers actively pick mulberries to raise silkworms when prices are good and output is favorable. Photo: Quang An