Japan funds sericulture expansion in Philippines

29 Jan '19

1 min read

Japan signed a grant contract early this month in Manila with the Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International (OISCA), a Japanese non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in the Philippines to spread sericulture beyond the Negros Island, where OISCA has been supporting silk rearing for more than 20 years.

Filipinos generally rely on imports for some of its raw silk materials, including those used for traditional costumes such as the Barong Tagalog.

The Philippine Government aims to achieve the domestic production of all silk threads used in the country, making the nationwide deployment of support for sericulture together with OISCA an essential project to achieve this goal, according to a release from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.

In this project, leadership development seminars will be organised in three provinces—Benguet, Aklan, and Misamis Oriental—to spread sericulture operations. Silk farmers will also receive short-term training and learn about mulberry field maintenance.

The aim is to raise the production of cocoon and high quality raw silk. The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects, a small-grant funding program of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), has allocated $ 426,168 for this venture. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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