Uzbek silk is gaining popularity

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The current period of accelerated reforms poses new challenges for us. In this sense, raising the standard of living of the population, reducing poverty, and creating permanent jobs are the ultimate goals. In the field of sericulture, for example, high efficiency is also ensured thanks to great attention and new approaches. Over the past four or five years, a number of decrees and resolutions of the Head of State concerning this industry have been adopted, and they are being consistently implemented. As a result, the fame of Uzbek silk spreads to the whole world.

However, the global market situation is changing very quickly, consumer demands are increasing, and demand for products from Uzbekistan is growing in foreign markets. Consequently, consistent implementation of measures for the development of sericulture is required. And in this it is of great importance that, in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated March 29, 2017, the Uzbekipaksanoat Association was formed. The document outlined priority tasks for further deepening the reforms carried out in the silk industry: creating a unified organizational and technological chain aimed at intensive development of the feed base, improving the processes of feeding and harvesting silkworm cocoons, introducing effective production methods and in-depth processing of products, establishing the production of finished silk products, increasing the export potential of the industry, attracting investments.

Four harvests a year

It became possible to harvest four times a year. Due to this, 101 investment projects worth $117.4 million were implemented last year alone. In 2021, more than 862 thousand people worked in the sphere. Specific measures have been identified so that this figure exceeds 1 million 130 thousand people this year.

Contracts have been concluded with all homeworkers. In the third and fourth season, it is planned to increase the cocoon cultivation rate to 27 thousand tons and export products worth 96 million dollars. In 2022, 132 million dollars of foreign investments will be disbursed within the framework of 115 projects. A special platform for the sale of products of Uzbekipaksanoat enterprises has been launched at the Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.

In place of the old cocoon-growing enterprises, modern sericulture clusters have been created, the number of which reached 74 in a short time. In 2017, there were only 19 such enterprises and they worked at 30 percent of their capacity. Now the old, once abandoned buildings have been transferred to entrepreneurs at zero cost. As a result, activities have been established in the renovated premises, hundreds of jobs have been created. Silkworms get a good reward for their hard work. Cocoon harvesters, in agreement with processing enterprises, are paid 24,700 soums per kilogram of harvest. For example, a sericulturist who took care of two boxes of grain receives 2.8 million soums per month. Thanks to the allocation of subsidies, his income is 3.4 million soums. 120 billion soums will be allocated for subsidies from the State Budget on account of cocoons grown in 2022. Industry enterprises, as a result of a 10 percent increase in the price of cocoons, will be able to additionally pay 54 billion soums to sericulturists.

Another important aspect is that the short-term work of a sericulturist is formalized accordingly, the continuity of the length of service required for pension accrual in the future is ensured.

The geography of exports is expanding

In five years, it is planned to grow 2 million 190 thousand boxes of grain: in 2022 — 320 thousand, in 2023 — 380 thousand, in 2024 — 460 thousand, in 2025 – 500 thousand and in 2026 — 530 thousand. More than 120 species of gren breeds from countries with different climatic conditions have been imported to the Sericulture Research Institute, they reproduce in order to expand the gene pool of the silkworm. Scientists of the Institute carry out breeding work with them, as a result, more than ten new and hybrid breeds of silkworms have appeared.

The Institute has also organized a collection of mulberry trees from 240 varieties, forms and systems brought from 16 countries. When working with them, the scientists of the Institute invented more than a hundred new and crossed species of mulberry.

In 2021, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties of mulberry tree were developed, such as "Jararyk-13", "Jararyk-14", "Mustakillik-2018" and "Marhamat-2017". They have been put into production. In order to increase the mulberry gene pool on the basis of memoranda concluded with foreign countries, it is planned to import new varieties in 2022-2026, which will be localized.

By 2026, it is planned to increase the export of silk products by more than $ 191 million. It will be possible to export silk products abroad for more than $ 104 million more than in 2021.

Last year, the volume of exports exceeded $ 87 million and amounted to 101 percent relative to the target. I would like to draw your attention to one more point: if by 2020 domestic silk products were exported to 15 foreign countries, now our silk is sent to 24 states.

The quality will be tested in the laboratory

It is envisaged that by 2026 the production of raw silk will be increased to 3,300 tons, silk down — up to 1,100 tons, silk yarn — up to 2,300 tons, silk fabrics — up to 24 million linear meters, the manufacture of silk carpets — up to 2,450 and finished silk products — up to 12.5 million pieces.

To improve the quality of products, a testing laboratory has been established at the Uzbekipaksanoat Association. During this year, the launch of such testing laboratories in all sericulture clusters will be ensured.

It should be emphasized here that 54.6 thousand boxes of grain were planned to be harvested in the Andijan region this year. At the same time, limited liability companies "Asaka Silk Worm" and "Andijan Guang Tong" have already prepared 60 thousand boxes of grain. So in this area, the harvesting of greene has already been completely localized.

Also, when harvesting grain by seed—growing enterprises in 2023, in order to increase the share of domestic products, it is planned to increase the localization level to 72.2 percent, and in 2024 - to 81.5 percent.

Interaction has been established

In Uzbekistan, the production of silk products is organized on a systematic basis, in connection with which proposals are received from neighboring countries to introduce our experience.

With the cooperation of the Khorezm Pilla Holding LLC operating in the Khorezm region and the Ozar Ipagi enterprise located in the Shek district of Azerbaijan, the activities of a joint Uzbek-Azerbaijani enterprise are being launched. Experts from Tajikistan have made a proposal to study the experience of Uzbekistan in the cultivation of silkworms. Therefore, representatives of LLC "Surkhon ipagi" took care of five thousand boxes of grain in Tajikistan.

Currently, 74 sericulture clusters process 7.5 thousand tons of dry cocoon. In 2021, 2,378 tons of raw silk were produced, which is seven percent more than a year earlier.

Cocoon processing enterprises are also increasing production volumes by types of silk products. In particular, in 2021, the production of silk down amounted to 793 tons, finished silk products — 935.7 thousand.

For manual work and the demand is special

In order to create a chain of production of value-added products, together with the company from Germany "Afghan Bazar Carpets Gmbg", the activities of enterprises specializing in the manual manufacture of carpets from mixtures of silk, wool and cotton wool have been launched.

A joint venture with her was opened in the Andijan region. Its design capacity is one million dollars. 40 carpet-making machines have been installed here and more than a hundred women have been employed.

At the joint venture with the same design capacity "Afghan Bazar Silk Carpets Shakhrisabz" in Kashkadarya region — 50 machines, 80 women were employed.

The same joint venture "Afghan Bazar Silk Carpets Asia" with a design capacity of five million dollars with 50 carpet weaving machines began operating in Surkhandarya region, providing jobs for 220 women.

According to the projects included in the State Program of 2021, it is determined that $ 19.7 million will be invested in the industry. Of these, $6.4 million was disbursed at the expense of enterprises' own funds, $7.9 million — at the expense of loans from commercial banks and $5.4 million — as foreign direct investment. Compared to 2020, these funds have increased by $15.6 million, or 126 percent. Also, enterprises in the association's system in 2021 have mastered investment funds in the amount of $ 117.4 million due to the launch of new production facilities and modernization of existing ones.

More mulberry plantations

As part of the nationwide greening movement, it is planned to plant 70 million mulberry saplings in the republic. By now, this figure has already been brought to 122 million. The area of mulberry plantations exceeded 54 thousand hectares. They are distributed among homeworkers, who, in addition to caring for trees, can plant vegetables in the aisles and earn income.

Starting in autumn, farmers, regardless of the type of activity, will plant seedlings of grapes and mulberry trees on the sidelines of the fields. In this direction, the enterprises in the system of our association have already begun practical work.

For comparison: if in 2017 mulberry seedlings were completely imported from China, now 22 farms have been created in our country specializing in the preparation of such seedlings. Seedlings are already being exported. Good experience in this matter has been accumulated in Andijan. Together with the Ministry of Innovative Development, work is being completed on the organization of an In vitro laboratory. Thanks to the scientific initiative, it becomes possible to grow mulberry seedlings all year round.

The area of mulberry plantations is constantly growing. For example, in the Yangiabad district of the Jizzakh region, LLC "Zomin asl ipak tolasi" has developed 1.5 thousand hectares of rain-fed lands. For the introduction of drip irrigation, 37 artesian wells have already been dug on them, 37 transformers have been installed and used. Trees have been planted on the plots, and new mulberry plantations spread over 247 hectares.

If 862.5 thousand citizens were employed in the sphere in 2021, then by 2026, due to an increase in the volume of cocoon harvesting and the implementation of investment projects, it is planned to bring this figure to 1 million 322 thousand people. This year, this figure will be 1 million 130 thousand, in 2023 — 1 million 175 thousand, in 2024 — 1 million 222 thousand and in 2025 — 1 million 271 thousand. The increase in the number of jobs in sericulture is closely related to the development of the sphere. The transformation of a cocoon into yarn by its deep processing brings more income than its sale as raw materials. And the production of finished products from it — carpets or clothes — will multiply it. This means that the incomes of workers employed in the industry will also increase.

In general, all of the above should increase production volumes and improve the quality of Uzbek silk, the demand for which is increasing on the world market.

Bahrom SHARIPOV,

Chairman of the Board of the Uzbekipaksanoat Association.