Utexrwa targets mulberry tree cultivation on 1000 ha

26 May '10

2 min read

In a bid to perk up sericulture in the country, Utexrwa, the only textile company in Rwanda has decided to cultivate mulberry trees on 1,000 hectares (ha) of land within the next twelve months.

Currently, the cultivation of these trees is being carried out on only 300 ha across three districts of Kigali. Increasing mulberry cultivation is a measure to grow silk production, said Utexrwa Managing Director, Raj Rajendran, considering the fact that this is fodder for silkworm, which it eats to produce silk fibre.

Currently, the company is imparting training on skills of rearing and cultivating mulberry trees to co-operatives in the country, he added.

Although, the company requires 480 kg of silk fibre per day, since two years, the country has been able to produce only two tons of cocoons. With mulberry cultivation on 1,000 ha, the company would be able to produce 150 tons of silk yarn per year.

The calculation is such that, 1,000 ha of mulberry trees will yield 750 tons of cocoons, which will give 150 tons of yarn per year on an average, informed Rajendran.

Almost 100 youth from nine silk co-operatives across Kigali will be trained in collaboration with Rwanda Horticulture Development Authority (RHODA). In addition to this, Utexrwa is also setting up handloom cooperatives in the country to process cocoons.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India

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