Overview
This manual, FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 80, serves as a comprehensive guide to sericulture. It covers the essential practices for silk production, from the cultivation of mulberry trees, the sole food source for silkworms, through the detailed stages of silkworm rearing, managing associated diseases and pests, to the final processes of cocoon harvesting and silk reeling.
Key Areas Covered
- Mulberry Cultivation: Details on tree anatomy, leaf production, optimal climate and soil conditions, propagation techniques, planting, cultivation methods, harvesting, and soil management.
- Silkworm Rearing: In-depth information on silkworm life cycles, egg incubation, rearing practices for different larval stages, environmental controls, and handling during moulting.
- Diseases and Pests: Identification and control strategies for common diseases affecting silkworms and mulberry plants, as well as prevalent pests.
- Silk Reeling: Explanation of silk filament structure, the process of extracting silk from cocoons, and preparation for subsequent textile manufacturing.
- Management: Guidance on effective rearing management, focusing on increasing field productivity, reducing operational costs, and integrating sericulture with other farming activities.
Purpose
The manual is designed as a training resource to provide practitioners with the knowledge and techniques necessary for successful and efficient sericulture, supporting the global silk industry.