More mulberry trees needed for growth of silk trade
More mulberry trees needed for growth of silk trade
Laos will ultimately need a lot more mulberry trees so that more silkworms can be produced, to avoid heavy dependence on imports from China, Vietnam and other countries, according to a veteran of the industry.
Mr Hansana expressed his concerns at a recent meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong, who is in charge of macroeconomic affairs and services.
Handicrafts play a significant role in macroeconomic development largely due to exports of silk products, textiles and other handmade silk products made by local entrepreneurs.
President of the Lao Handicrafts Association, Mr Hansana Sisane, recently called on the government to consider establishing more mulberry tree plantations using the age-old wisdom of Lao people to cultivate the crop as well as Laos' fertile soil.
“Everyone knows that Lao handicrafts are an important part of rural livelihoods nationwide, among people of all ethnic groups, because they can earn a dependable income from the sale of handicraft products,” he said.
Mr Hansana also said that the number of handicraft producers is increasing every year but the quantity of raw materials needed to make these products is declining because they have been overharvested.
“The cultivation of bamboo and rattan also needs to be stepped up in order to supply the demand for a large range of items woven from these plants,” he said.
On behalf of the Lao Handicrafts Association, Mr Hansana expressed concern over the decline of raw materials and called on the government to seek an appropriate solution for the sustainable development of handicraft businesses.
With Laos preparing for integration into the AEC, he called on the government to pay special attention to intellectual property concerns so that handicraft and weaving designs are recognised and registered by UNESCO.
“By doing so, there will be a clear identity of our products,” he said.
At the same time, classes should be arranged to teach handicraft skills to the younger generation, otherwise local wisdom concerning handicraft products will die out in the future, he added.
The annual Lao Handicraft Festival will be held at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane from October 30 to November 3 in a bid to p romote local handicrafts and woven products from around the country.
The event also serves as a platform for handicraft makers from around the country to get together and share their business experiences.
