Silk Prices Surge
FARM gate price for silk cocoons has gone up by sh400 from sh2400 to sh2800,an increase of 16%.
By Macrines Nyapendi
FARM gate price for silk cocoons has gone up by sh400 from sh2400 to sh2800,an increase of 16%.
“Buyers hiked the prices when they learnt of financial assistance offered by non-governmental organisations,†Gershom Mugenyi the national silk expert and assistant commissioner for entomology told The New Vision.
The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), African Development Fund (ADF) and the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Entomology (ICIPE), pledged to revive the sub sector by providing financial and technical support.
“We had to inspire farmers by making price increments for the silk cocoons. Bushenyi got sh100m worth of reeling equipment with a capacity to reel over 24 tonnes of silk cocoons per year,†Mugenyi said.
The equipment was installed in Bushenyi district in July and the plant now has a capacity to reel 24 tonnes per year.
The Bushenyi plant processes yarn to dyed silk fabrics that are sold at US$8 per metre. The western region produces 30 tonnes of cocoons.
“We have got orders from Phenix logistics for silk yarn but we can not satisfy all. We are planning to expand our operations to other districts,†he said.
Over 500kg of yarn and wasted cocoons are exported to South Africa every month.
About 100kg fetch US$2400. The silk sector has got 800 farmers. Most of them are from South-western Uganda. The number has grown from 500 to 800.
Ends
FARM gate price for silk cocoons has gone up by sh400 from sh2400 to sh2800,an increase of 16%.
“Buyers hiked the prices when they learnt of financial assistance offered by non-governmental organisations,†Gershom Mugenyi the national silk expert and assistant commissioner for entomology told The New Vision.
The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), African Development Fund (ADF) and the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Entomology (ICIPE), pledged to revive the sub sector by providing financial and technical support.
“We had to inspire farmers by making price increments for the silk cocoons. Bushenyi got sh100m worth of reeling equipment with a capacity to reel over 24 tonnes of silk cocoons per year,†Mugenyi said.
The equipment was installed in Bushenyi district in July and the plant now has a capacity to reel 24 tonnes per year.
The Bushenyi plant processes yarn to dyed silk fabrics that are sold at US$8 per metre. The western region produces 30 tonnes of cocoons.
“We have got orders from Phenix logistics for silk yarn but we can not satisfy all. We are planning to expand our operations to other districts,†he said.
Over 500kg of yarn and wasted cocoons are exported to South Africa every month.
About 100kg fetch US$2400. The silk sector has got 800 farmers. Most of them are from South-western Uganda. The number has grown from 500 to 800.
Ends