Silk Production in Africa

SILK PRODUCTION IN AFRICA

Recently some African countries recognised a great opportunities and potential in sericulture industry. Sericulture industry is a silk industry or silk farming involving rearing of silk worm and a raw silk production. The Sub Saharan African countries have a suitable environmental and climate conditions all year round to grow the mulberry tree which is needed by the silk worms to live, feed and grow. This industry seems to be very promising agricultural enterprise and if wisely accelerated will bring many employment opportunities in the rural areas of the countries and will help to alleviate poverty.

The silk industry outside the African continent is well known and its history goes long time back. This is a multibillion dollar trade. The largest consumer of the silk is Japan, but its local silk production has in recent years rapidly dropped and country is importing large percentage of silk goods from China. Thus China has become the world`s largest silk producer and leader in the industry with almost 95% of the world export market. On the other hand USA is one of the world`s largest silk garments importer and its silk productions are actually virtually nonexistent. As US market also Germany and France are great importers of the silk garments without the silk production. The same applies to many other European countries. The second largest producer of the silk has been for many years India. The year 2011 and 2012 has been excellent year for the silk production in India and all the sectors of the silk production have shown a positive growth over previous years. However, India is still importing the large percentage of silk from China. Just recently in the current Budget 2013, decision has been int...

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...li, which will increase and speed up the production. The plan is to involve the weaving industry creating a new sector utilizing cocoons and make mosquito nets. This project is drawn for the next 3 years and will create employment as well as increase of income for the locals.

Considering the ups and downs of the trade and new decisions or budgets in the silk industry in the world , it is actually the right decision for the upcoming countries in Africa to start thinking of utilizing their land for the purpose of income and export as for searching the right agricultural opportunities. It is a niche market with a great potential. What is required, as of now, is to create right strategic plans, goal aimed discussions and suitable investments. Africa has great potentials in many sectors and development of the country is on the rise.

Works Cited

newspapaper, magazines