BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
The export of silk products by Uzbek enterprises reached $76.5 million despite the difficult situation due to COVID-19, Trend reports referring to 'Pravda Vostoka' newspaper.
The Committee of Uzbekistan for the Development of Sericulture and Karakul (breed of domestic sheep) Breeding held an event dedicated to the prospects for international cooperation in this area.
It was noted at the event that silkworm breeding and karakul breeding as ancient and traditional types of agriculture play a special role in the economy of Uzbekistan. Today, these industries are considered one of the most important in the agro-industrial complex in terms of their economic and innovative potential.
According to the information, Uzbekistan ranks third in the world in terms of cocoon production after China and India. In addition, 70 percent of raw silk, dry cocoons, silk threads, yarns, fabrics are exported to India, Iran, China, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Russia.
Also, the sericulture industry provides jobs for many families in rural areas, which makes it a promising industry for investments.
Last year, the area of mulberry trees planted for strengthening the feed base of silkworms reached 50,200.
As a result of uniform provision of enterprises in the sphere with silk products, the level of utilization of production capacities in Uzbekistan amounted 94 percent. At the same time, 1,200 tons of dry cocoons, 800 tons of silk wool, 2,557 linear meters of silk fabric, 800 tons of silk waste, 250 carpets were produced. A total of $95.3 million was invested in the launch and modernization of production facilities.
Furthermore, the activities of scientific pedigree experimental stations have been established, specializing in the cultivation of a high-elite class of purebred Karakul sheep of light brown color in the Navoi region and Karakul pedigree sheep of a high-class class of black and gray color in the Kashkadarya region in order to create productive breeds of sheep.
As a result of breeding work on a scientific basis, carried out in 2020, 15,000 heads of high-class breeding sheep were raised and delivered to the population and farms.
In Bukhara, Navoi and Kashkadarya regions, which have achieved the greatest development of this area, work is being completed on the organization of modern enterprises with a processing capacity of 200,000 -250,000 karakul smushka (skins of lambs from the breed of karakul sheep) per year.
In order to collect karakul breeding products, in particular wool and karakul smushka, supplied by the population, dekhkans (family farm) and farms, complexes for the preparation of raw materials have been organized in the regions and Karakalpakstan Republic of Uzbekistan.
The meeting also provided information on the work planned in 2021 in the silkworm and karakul breeding industries. In particular, in karakul breeding it is planned to obtain 15,000 tons of wool, 608,000 karakul skins, 6,000 tons of threads and fabrics, create 281 new enterprises.
Regarding the sericulture industry, the export of silk products by enterprises of the Uzbekipaksanoat Association is forecasted for $86.6 million, receiving 935,700 units of finished silk products, 9.1 million running meters of silk fabric.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @romakayeva
