China extends support to Cuba to improve sericulture

The Centre for Foreign Economic Cooperation under the Chinese ministry of agriculture recently organised a seminar in Havana to offer guidance to Cuban silk industry representatives on improving production and industrialization of the fibre and explore avenues for bilateral growth. China-Cuba cooperation in sericulture began five years ago.

The seminar last week included visits to production sites and training on new techniques. China also operates a small experimental sericulture field in Cuba, according to a news agency report.

Cuba’s agriculture ministry seeks to expand its five-year sericulture program and attract Chinese investment in the sector. The country is adopting sericulture as a sustainable alternative to support the development of its biomedical, biotechnological and textile industries, expecting rise in employment and income.

Wei Kai, a professor from the Soochow University in Suzhou City in eastern China and three other Chinese sericulture experts will provide training to more than 20 Cuban officials. "Our courses here cover the whole process, from cultivating silkworms to producing silk, to silk cocoon processing, dying, weaving and even include the medical use of silk fibre," said Wei.

“Our courses here are intended to introduce all relevant technology and products in the sericulture downstream industrial chain to Cuban researchers," the news agency quoted Wei as saying.