Preserving silk in Dong Nai’s land

Sericulture is a long-standing traditional craft in Vietnam, closely tied to the nation's history of silk production. Today, this craft continues to be maintained and developed in many localities, including Dak Lua commune in Dong Nai province, where it has a history of more than 30 years.

From small individual households to cooperative models, the local people here have always strived to preserve the craft. The goal is not only to maintain income but also to preserve the quality of silk threads, a delicate agricultural product associated with local culture and identity.

Increasing silkworm rearing efficiency with hybrid mulberry varieties

Silkworm rearing is currently one of the crafts that provides a quick and stable source of income for the people of Dong Nai. After just 15 to 17 days of investment and care, farmers can recover their capital and earn a profit. However, for silkworm rearing to develop sustainably, the key prerequisite is a sufficient supply of raw materials, specifically, the mulberry tree.

It is a miracle that from a tiny body, each silkworm can spin a silk thread 700-1,200m long. These shimmering silk threads are not only precious to the silkworm but also the pride of Dong Nai farmers, who are striving every day to preserve the essence of the craft village.

Currently, Dak Lua is the commune with the largest mulberry cultivation area in Dong Nai province, with over 260ha. Recently, farmers have boldly switched from old mulberry varieties to new, higher-yielding varieties. After 8 years of working in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, Luc Thi Hanh, from Dak Lua commune, decided to convert all of her more than 3 rods of mulberry from old varieties to hybrid mulberry varieties, which produce thick leaves, high yield, and are easy to care for. Similarly, Nguyen Dinh Mai, who has over 20 years of experience in the craft, also boldly converted his 3ha of mulberry to this high-yielding variety.

Farmers in Dak Lua commune are actively converting and planting new areas of old mulberry varieties to hybrid mulberry varieties for higher yields. Photo: Tu Huy

Luc Thi Hanh said, "Because the old mulberry variety required a lot of care and had low yield, my family decided to switch to the hybrid mulberry variety. This new variety yields 5 times more than the mulberry variety we have been growing for a long time."

Similarly, Nguyen Duy Mai shared: "More than 2 years ago, my family decided to gradually convert the old mulberry area to hybrid mulberry cultivation, and now all 3ha of this new mulberry variety have been completely replaced. Since the conversion, the family's economy has developed faster. Due to the effectiveness seen in many households, people here are also gradually converting and expanding, increasing the area."

Previously, with the old mulberry variety, farmers had to harvest each leaf. Since planting this new variety, at harvest time, farmers can cut the entire stem and leaves, put them into a shredder, and then spread them for the silkworms to eat. This change helps save harvesting labor, and the usable mulberry yield also increases by 10-15 times, assisting farmers to raise more silkworms, thereby bringing higher income.

Thanks to the conversion to new mulberry varieties, the silkworm rearing productivity of farmers has significantly increased. Photo: Tu Huy

Nguyen Thi Dinh, Chairwoman of the Farmers' Association of Dak Lua commune, Dong Nai province, added: To help farmers understand more about cultivation techniques and maintain the lifespan of hybrid mulberry trees, the Communal Farmers' Association will directly advise the Dong Nai Provincial Farmers' Association and specialized departments to organize training sessions on how to plant and care for mulberry trees, control pests and diseases to achieve the best mulberry yield, bringing optimal income to farmers.

With over 30 years of maintenance and development, it can be seen that the mulberry tree is not only a food source for silkworms but also a "tree for enrichment" for the people of Dak Lua commune. With each hectare of mulberry potentially bringing 230-300 million VND/year, mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing are becoming an effective and sustainable economic direction for Dong Nai farmers.

Preserving the quality of silk fibers

Silkworm rearing determines the value of mulberry trees, and cocoon sales determine each family's income. However, producing high-quality cocoons is not easy. Experience, weather, and humidity are critical factors that directly affect both the quality of silk fibers and the selling price.

Having been engaged in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing for nearly 30 years, Vu Thi Hai in Dak Lua commune can now raise up to two batches of silkworms each month. From the time the silkworms climb onto the frames until the cocoons are harvested, it takes only three days, but the raiser must monitor them closely.

To ensure cocoon quality, silkworm raisers must pay attention to many technical aspects. Photo: Tu Huy

Hai shared her experience: “Although each batch lasts just over half a month, caring for silkworms during the rainy season requires more effort than in the dry season. In my experience, the silkworms must mature uniformly before being transferred to the frames. On rainy days, we have to dry them using a charcoal oven. We check the cocoons by removing them from the frames. If they aren’t crispy and can’t be pressed out with the tool, they must be sun-dried further until they can be pressed out without collapsing. Only then will the silk be white and meet the required standards.”

Currently, in Dong Nai province, there is only one silk reeling factory located in Dak Lua commune, which is Duy Dong Factory. Each year, the factory can purchase 300-400 tons of cocoons.

To ensure a stable supply of raw materials and enhance production capacity, since 2023, Nguyen Duy Dong, the factory director, established the Mulberry Silk Production and Service Cooperative with over 20 local households specializing in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, supplying cocoons to the factory.

Nguyen Duy Dong noted, “The supply of silkworm cocoons in Dak Lua Commune is quite abundant. This is an established cultivation area with a history of over 30 years. The quality is consistent and meets the factory’s standards. Currently, the factory is equipped with many modern silk production lines and next-generation automatic reeling machines. I am gradually investing in the remaining operations and will work toward transforming them in the near future to standardize the products.”

Nguyen Duy Dong, the factory director, is checking the silk quality at the factory. Photo: Tu Huy

To produce export-quality silk rolls, cocoons must go through a 5-step process: drying, steaming, boiling, reeling, and finally winding the fibers onto spools to create the finished product. This undertaking requires workers not only to be skilled but also to meet specific requirements.

Do Hong Nhung, an experienced skilled worker at the factory, revealed: "To achieve export-quality silk, we must pay extreme attention. This includes the requirement for sharp eyes to clearly see the silk threads of each cocoon to accurately perform the splicing. A new worker also needs 2 months of apprenticeship to fully understand the work through each stage and step."

Currently, the factory's silk fiber products not only serve the domestic market but are also exported to demanding markets such as India and Japan. However, most of it remains in raw form, meaning its economic value does not yet match its inherent potential.

To ensure the sustainable development of mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing in Dong Nai, local authorities, associations, and businesses need to play an essential "relay" role, not only in technology investment but also in brand building and market expansion.

Finished silk rolls. Photo: Tu Huy

More than just an agricultural product, silk fiber is the crystallization of labor, technique, and traditional culture. It is through the diligent hands of today's farmers that the essence of the craft village can be preserved and shine on the silk map of Vietnam and the world.

By: Ly Na Phan

Translated by Mai Nga-Minho