Bright future of mulberry and silk in the Northern mountainous region [Part 2]: Potential to become a large production area

On the banks of the Gam River, which flows through several communes of Bao Lac District, many mulberry fields grow green on the rocky mountain slopes. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Border district has more than 500 hectares of mulberry

Bao Lac District is one of the poorest localities in Cao Bang Province. This is a border area with rugged terrain, steep slopes, and difficult transportation. Previously, people mainly lived on corn, cassava, and rice cultivation on dry terraced fields, with unstable incomes.

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Bright future of mulberry in the Northern mountainous region [Part 1]: Green and thriving on rocky hills

Faced with this situation, in 2011, the local government coordinated with the province's professional agencies to introduce mulberry varieties for experimental planting in some communes such as Co Ba, Hong Tri, and Xuan Truong. Initially, only a few households participated because they were not familiar with the new production model and did not dare to believe in this strange crop.

Through the first few crops, the mulberry tree showed its ability to adapt to the land, soil and climate, with stable cocoon productivity, and was purchased by traders. Seeing that the economic efficiency of mulberry was much higher than that of traditional crops, local people actively converted ineffective crops to mulberry cultivation for silkworm rearing.

Up to now, Bao Lac is the district with the largest mulberry area in Cao Bang province with more than 500 hectares, mainly concentrated in the communes of Co Ba, Hong Tri, Kim Cuc, Bao Toan, Hung Dao, Khanh Xuan, Xuan Truong...

Currently, the entire Bao Lac district has more than 500 hectares of mulberry planted to replace corn, cassava, rice... Photo: Thanh Tien.

Following the winding roads leading to the highland villages, it is not difficult to come across lush green mulberry fields stretching across the mountain slopes. This spring, the people here are busy weeding, fertilizing, and taking care of the mulberry trees to prepare for the new silkworm season.

Escape poverty thanks to mulberry

After seeing other households prosper from growing mulberry and raising silkworms, in 2015, Mr. Sam Van Khinh's family in Khuoi Dao hamlet, Co Ba commune (Bao Lac district) converted 0.5 hectares of hillside land that was usually used for growing corn and cassava to growing mulberry.

Mr. Khinh shared that growing corn and cassava was only enough for his family and raising a few pigs and chickens. The hilly land quickly became infertile, and productivity gradually decreased over the seasons, so life continued to be difficult year after year. Thanks to expanding the mulberry area and learning silkworm farming techniques from previous households, the silkworm cocoon yield increased each season, the price of silkworm cocoons also increased, and income became increasingly stable. After many years of being "titled" a poor household, by 2021, Mr. Khinh's family officially escaped poverty, had a better life, and had better conditions for their children to study.

Mulberry trees are supported by the government, so people only need to prepare the soil, dig trenches, and add fertilizer. After planting and caring for them for half a year, they can harvest leaves to feed silkworms. In the following years, leaf productivity increases and more silkworms can be raised.

Mulberry has a strong root system that penetrates deep into the soil, so in the drought season, when other crops wither, mulberry still grows well. Even on steep, rocky hills, mulberry still grows well. Harvesting mulberry leaves to feed silkworms is also easier than harvesting other agricultural products, the elderly and children can also participate in the labor of silkworms.

Mulberry cultivation and sericulture are suitable for the farming level of local people in Bao Lac district. Photo: Thanh Tien.

The Nung people in the highlands often live in wooden stilt houses, the area under the floor is usually only used to store food, farming tools and firewood. Taking advantage of this space, many households have renovated and cleaned it into a place to raise silkworms to reduce investment costs. When economic conditions are better, they build separate silkworm houses.

Raising silkworms is not difficult, it just requires meticulousness and care. The breeder must closely monitor each batch of silkworms, feed them on time, and maintain a stable temperature for the silkworms to grow well. If the weather is hot, open the plastic sheet and turn on the fan to circulate the air. When the weather is rainy and windy, cover the area so as not to affect the growth and development of the silkworms.

“The most important thing is that the mulberry leaves must be fresh, clean, and dry to help the silkworms not get sick. After importing silkworm breeds from the cooperative, people focus on harvesting the leaves, feeding the silkworms for about a week, then the silkworms mature, spin cocoons, and after another week they can be harvested and sold to the cooperative. If well cared for, each year they can raise 6-8 batches of silkworms, and each hectare of mulberry can yield 0.8-1 ton of cocoons,” said Mr. Khinh.

One hectare of mulberry can bring in an income of 150 - 200 million VND/year. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Support seedlings and materials to expand raw material areas

Previously, people in the communes of Bao Lac district mainly developed their economy by growing corn, rice, cassava and some crops with better income such as star anise, bamboo poles, etc. However, due to steep land, rapid erosion and degradation, and unstable productivity, hundreds of households have chosen mulberry trees as their main livelihood, both providing stable income and preventing erosion and landslides on hills and mountains.

According to Mr. To Duc Binh, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bao Lac district, the whole district has developed a mulberry growing area of ​​more than 500 hectares, which is gradually becoming the main crop of the locality.

Growing mulberry, raising silkworms, and selling cocoons is 4-5 times more economically efficient than corn and rice on the same area. If 1 hectare of mulberry is grown to raise silkworms according to the correct technical process, it will yield about 1 ton of cocoons per year, worth nearly 200 million VND. In 2024, the district's cocoon output will reach more than 420 tons, with cocoon prices ranging from 180,000 - 200,000 VND/kg. Many households growing mulberry, raising silkworms, and selling cocoons earn 200 - 300 million VND per year.

Bao Lac district strives to expand mulberry area to more than 1,100 hectares. Photo: Thanh Tien.

In the coming time, the district strives to plant about 600 hectares of mulberry, concentrated in the communes of Co Ba, Hong Tri, Bao Toan, Khanh Xuan, Hung Dao..., bringing the total mulberry area of ​​the district to more than 1,100 hectares. The district government directs functional agencies and localities to mobilize people to convert ineffective swidden land areas for cassava, corn, and rice cultivation to mulberry cultivation.

In addition, Bao Lac is integrating 3 national target programs (new rural development, sustainable poverty reduction and development of mountainous ethnic minority areas) to support seedlings, fertilizers and materials to help people develop commercial mulberry areas. At the same time, it opens training courses on care techniques and disease prevention to help people improve the productivity and quality of silkworm cocoons.

To ensure stable output, the district government encourages people to join in production, establish cooperatives to support, share experiences, techniques for growing mulberry, harvesting leaves, and raising silkworms effectively. Form a value chain from farmers - cooperatives - silk factories to consume and process products.

From a land that was only familiar with corn and cassava, Bao Lac is becoming a bright spot in the mulberry growing and sericulture industry of Cao Bang province. The rocky mountain slopes are now covered with green mulberry leaves, and the once poor households now have high annual incomes.

Mulberry cultivation and sericulture not only create motivation to escape poverty but also a path to sustainable development, help protect the environment, and create valuable products. If properly invested and supported, in the future this place can completely become a major silk production area of ​​the northern border region.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/tuong-lai-sang-dau-tam-to-mien-nui-phia-bac-bai-2-tiem-nang-thanh-vung-san-xuat-lon-d743824.html