Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr E. Guliyev / Azerbaijan will adopt a silkworm breeding conception, the Technical Director of Sheki-Ipek OJSC Shahin Azizov said on 25 October.
According to Azizov, Sheki-Ipek enterprise, employing 1,500 workers, has developed and submitted their proposal to the Cabinet, a conception on sericulture development in Azerbaijan.
In order to develop Azerbaijan's raw material market, 4,000 boxes with silkworm cocoons were imported from China and distributed among silkworm breeders of thirteen Azerbaijani regions. Moreover, 50kg of mulberry seeds were brought from China and planted in Azerbaijan.
Sheki-Ipek experiences difficulties due to a lack of local raw silk materials. Therefore, the enterprise purchased 250t of silkworm cocoons in Uzbekistan and Iran.
Sheki-Ipek forecasts that it will grow over 4.5mln t of young mulberry plants between 2007 and 2008 and 3mln young plants will be distributed between private silkworm breeding economies.
Silk-spinning equipment costing €4mln was purchased in Switzerland.
Sheki is located 352km north-west of Baku.