Kunduz sericulture on the decline

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Silkworm farming in northeastern Kunduz province is on downward trend as the industry produced a total of three tonnes of silk during 2013.

Silk is used in making carpets, turban, handkerchief, fabric, jackets, handbags and other products that are sold at high prices. The silk industry has been common in the province.

Director for promoting silkworm, Abdul Sattar Sarwari, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the process of growing silkworm has been halted during this year as cooperative organizations did not support the farming process.

He said the ministry of agriculture has suggested a project worth of 900,000 afghanis to cooperative organizations, but they rejected the suggestion.

Hundreds of people including women were associated with the farming of silkworm in Kunduz where last year 500 families were deployed to grow silkworms. Three tons of silk was produced that year, he added.

Growing of silkworm is part of tradition among some families in Kunduz city and in Ali Abad district of the province. Seeds of the silkworm were freely delivered among growers.

Zarmina, a resident of Kunduz City, said she had been growing silkworms for the last six years, which proved a good source of income for her. She complained the agriculture department this year did not deliver her silkworm seeds.

Zarmina, a mother of seven children who has lost her husband, said she was feeding her kids by selling silk products in Kunduz. Agriculture officials said they were trying to help revive silkworm farming.

mds/rm

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