153.5 acres of perennial mulberry thrive in Mandalay Region

There are 153.5 acres of perennial mulberry cultivation for cocoon production in Mandalay Region, said Daw Moe Moe Win, Assistant Director of Sericulture Research and Technical Development Centre in PyinOoLwin.
There are five state-owned farms in the region including the Research Centre, silk ginning factory and silkworm cocoon research farm and the three other sericulture farms. Kaung Myat Aung private company is also engaged in mulberry cultivation. Those farms yearly produce over 6,000 pounds of silkworm cocoons.
“The mulberry is perennial and it is mostly cultivated in May-June period. Beyond silkworm production, mulberry cultivation can also produce nutritious mulberry tea leaves, wine and jam as it can bring health benefits. Furthermore, cosmetics such as soaps and shampoos are also manufactured from cocoons. Different growing methods are utilized in the farms. The growers prefer the distance to plant at 3 by 3 feet, she explained.
There are 14 types of mulberry plants in Myanmar and the hybrid species imported by China are cultivated lately.
There are more than 5,600 acres of mulberry across the country, with yearly production of 750,000 pounds of cocoons.
​The silkworm cocoon is sent to the domestic silk ginning factories and silk are on sales under bidding system. Myanmar companies convey dried silkworm cocoons to China.—Min Htet Aung (Mandalay sub-printing house)/GNLM