Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Locally bred silkworms put to use in K Speu

Locally bred silkworms put to use in K Speu

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A model of a silkworm is displayed at an industry conference in Phnom Penh earlier this year. Heng Chivoan

Locally bred silkworms put to use in K Speu

With help from the Kingdom’s Silk Research Centre, the sleepy sector is showing new signs of life with the first crop of worms from the institute’s breeding centre being put to use.

Aoral Silk Community was the first farm in Kampong Speu province to successfully produce yarn after receiving silkworm from the centre early in July.

Now, the Kingdom’s producers will be able to obtain high-quality silkworms from the centre, thanks to a specialised team seeking to boost the local industry.

Aoral Silk president Ea Hoknym said the worms given to them by the centre are showing good yields in their first few weeks.

“We are trying to convince more local people to join us, so I predict that the community will grow bigger by the end of the year,” said Hoknym, adding that it received 5,000 silkworm eggs from the centre’s laboratory.

“I can raise up to 20,000 worms if the centre can produce that much,” he said.

The Silk Research Centre is based at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), where researchers, including engineers, scientists and students are working to breed healthy worms for Cambodia’s silk producers.

RUPP chairman Mey Kalyan said this is just the first step in helping bolster the silk industry.

“Now that we have the foundation, we are trying our best to move forward step by step,” he said, adding that Aoral Silk has produced around five kilograms of silk yarn.

Made up of 20 families on 10 hectares, it is seeking to revive the country’s silk industry.

Kalyan stated that in order to equal the 400 tonnes of silk that the Kingdom imports each year, the country will need 10,000 hectares.

Seng Takakneary, the founder and managing director at SentoSaSilk, confirmed that there would be demand in the country for domestic silk.

“It’s just a start, but when they have enough of what we need we will be their customer, as we need tons of silk,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.