Archive: THE SILK INDUSTRY REVITALISATION PROJECT
NY TANINTSIKA was invited by the population of Amoron'i Mania, near Manandriana,
to initiate income-generating activities in the field of sericulture (silk
production). Villagers there have practised sericulture for many years, but
have met with many constraints. Having received no technical support in the
subject, sericulture activities have greatly declined, and are only practised
out of habit. Production remains very low.
Since the Malagasy State is no longer able to support the sericulture industry,
a scarcity of silkworm eggs has emerged. Those people previously trained by governmental
projects had supplied surrounding regions with eggs. But the species, which has
been bred for tens of years, is in the process of degeneration and, as from this
year (2002), no more eggs have been produced.
The present situation of the silk industry shows that it is making a strong comeback in the textile and fashion world. However, local production is insufficient for the actors' needs, forcing artisans to use imported materials. This insufficiency of local primary materials results also from the inadequacy of mulberry tree cultivation. Sericulture is very profitable because of the high price that silk products fetch on the national and international markets. However, price also depends on product quality. Also, concerning the use of silk thread, villagers only know how to make shrouds, and not other decorative items, clothing or fabrics.
Sericulture activity in the region of Amoron'i Mania remains undeveloped since those involved consider it as a tradition inherited from their ancestors. It is not considered to be a source of income. Mulberry tree plantation is only done as a means of delimiting peoples' fields. Breeders dispose of, on average, 30 mulberry trees. Production is very poor, amounting to about 1 kg of cocoons for every 40 eggs. These are transformed into shroud cloth that can bring in an annual income of between 200,000 fmg and 250,000 fmg. Aside from product exploitation through weaving, the sale of chrysalis has motivated breeders to continue the activity.
Project background
Taking advantage of Feedback Trust Madagascar's experience in sericulture, Ny Tanintsika will promote this activity in the region of Amoron'i Mania. Sericulture will be developed as an income-generating activity, enhancing villagers' skills in the subject. It is intended that this sector could contribute to the region's fast development, and to environmental protection through increasing vegetation cover.
Ny Tanintsika has received funds from the ITF (International Tree Foundation) for reforestation work. This reforestation greatly involves the intensification of mulberry tree cultivation and the other plants used in the biological treatment of the silk thread. Besides that, NT is seeking funds to reinforce organisational capacity, in order to expand its interventions in the region.
Project description
Aim: To improve villagers' skills in sericulture and develop the marketing of finished products in the region of Amoron'i Mania.
Objectives:
- an increase and diversification of villagers' sources of income, in order to increase their buying power ;
- an improvement in villagers' living standards ;
- the development of the silk industry in the region cited : improvement and increase in productivity ;
- the creation of a sales circuit of primary materials and finished products between the producers (villagers) and buyers ;
- an improvement in the management of household finances ;
- the contribution of the silk industry to the region's development, especially through tourism promotion.
Activities:
- collect and analysis of baseline data in the three communes ;
- establish a demonstration tree nursery, incorporating mulberry trees and trees used in treatment/ processing (dyes) ;
- research silkworm diseases and adopt methods which reduce the rate of loss ;
- put in place a silkworm nursery in each commune for demonstration purposes and the training of villagers ;
- train 25 beneficiaries in each commune in mulberry tree cultivation, breeding and spinning, during the first year ;
- mulberry tree plantation : 40 trees per breeder ;
- supply tested silkworm eggs to breeders ;
- produce four yields annually per breeder ;
- improve product quality : cocoon size, thread quality, weaving techniques ;
- introduce weaving materials adapted to villagers' means ;
- train villagers in the production of woven materials ;
- research and application of techniques which increase the competitiveness of finished products on the local and international market ;
- collaborate with silk experts in Antananarivo ;
- research markets for primary materials : cocoons and silk thread ;
- sell cocoons in the first year, and finished products as from the second year ;
- create a tourist circuit which passes through project sites ;
- put in place a sales point of the association's products ;
- train villagers in management of household income.
This project consists of
promoting the sericulture industry and promoting professionalism amongst
those villagers practising it, in order to increase household income levels.
The causes of this industry's decline have been investigated, looking at the
cause of silkworm diseases. NT evaluates the space necessary for each family's
silkworm breeding, as well as the number of mulberry trees they dispose of.
Since the principal objective is to increase the volume of production,
NT intensifies mulberry tree cultivation by introducing species adapted
to the region. Villagers are trained in planting techniques as well as
the plant's care.
In general, breeding can be started from the second year of the silkworm-nourishing plant's life. However, since certain individuals already have several mulberry trees, training in breeding can be started straight away.
Breeding constitutes the core of this programme, whose aim is to increase productivity whilst decreasing loss due to silkworm diseases. NT assists villagers to improve breeding equipment, according to their means. Breeding control must be assured. Collaboration with the egg producers is indispensable in order to assure the continuity of supplies as well as the eggs' health. The use of disinfectants before breeding is also compulsory.
Since the current average annual income of village breeders is about 200,000fmg, this can increase fourfold in the first year after vulgarisation and training. Eventually, sericulture could provide them with an annual supplementary income of 2 to 2.5 million francs.
Fieldworkers are put in place to assure the day-to-day monitoring of breeding, in order to maximise productivity. It must be remembered that breeding requires very careful work, the worms being very vulnerable to disease.
The project aims at improving villagers' skills in the subject of spinning and weaving. Product quality must be guaranteed, through training, in order for them to be competitive. In addition, the project will introduce silk transformation which are adapted to villagers' means. Exchange visits are envisaged, to allow village silk producers to witness the development of the industry in other regions of Madagascar.
With regard to product outlets, since primary materials are insufficient on the local market, the project envisages producing silk thread in bulk. However, textiles will only be put on the market when a competitive standard is reached.
In brief, NT's project will intervene in 3 rural communes, incorporating:
- a training in mulberry tree cultivation,
- a training in silkworm breeding,
- a training in spinning and in weaving,
- income management
for each commune. Each training will involve an average of 25 participants (interested women or men). These trained villagers will be considered as a pilot, and the project will expand into other communes over the following years.
NY TANINTSIKA has established a central tree nursery of mulberry plants, which will be distributed to programme beneficiaries. A breeding room will also be put in place in order to facilitate training in the future.