Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 29
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
This year, 960 tons of silkworm cocoons are to be produced in the Lebap province of Turkmenistan, and this exceeds the planned figures for last year, Trend reports with reference to the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
More than 24,000 boxes of silkworm eggs distinguished by high-quality fiber varieties such as “Turkmen-13”, “Turkmen-16”, “Ak tille-1”, “Ak tille-2”, “Dostluk-1” and “Dostluk- 2” were supplied to the province.
In the Amu Darya valley, plantations of 2,300 hectares were created. Almost 50,000 mulberry trees are planted there annually.
Sericulture may become one of the key sectors of the local agricultural industry. Sericulture is spread throughout the country, with the exception of the western regions, and more than half of the cocoon harvesting accounts for the Lebap region.
Turkmenistan is the native land of silk homespun fabric called “ketene”. Turkmens have been successfully practicing sericulture for many centuries. Their homespun material has been very highly appreciated and has been in great demand due to its strength, as well as the brightness and beauty of its pattern.
The samples of ancient silk fabrics made in the ancient Turkmen city of Merv are preserved in the famous museums of Egypt, the UK and the US.