Three representatives from Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – Sericulture Research and Development Institute (DMMMSU-SRDI) recently attended sericulture training in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program to enhance their expertise in silk production.
Ma. Casaereen Joy C. Dumuk trained in Post-Cocoon Technology from January 8 to February 4, 2025, at the Central Silk Technological Research Institute (CSTRI) in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Denver T. Bulaay and Jayson C. Hermosa attended the Sericulture and the Silk Industry training from January 23 to February 19, 2025, at the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute in Mysuru.
The Post-Cocoon Technology training provided comprehensive knowledge on silk processing techniques, quality control, and advancements in sericulture practices. Participants gained hands-on experience in cocoon assessment, silk reeling, weaving, and quality testing. The program also introduced innovations in post-cocoon machinery, aimed at improving efficiency in silk production.
The Sericulture and the Silk Industry training included exposure to specialized laboratories focusing on silkworm breeding, silkworm pathology, mulberry physiology, and silkworm physiology. The training also covered soil sampling and testing, essential for improving mulberry cultivation. Additionally, the participants engaged with progressive sericulture farmers, gaining firsthand insights into successful sericulture practices.
As part of the training, study tours were organized to showcase India’s silk industry, including visits to silk reeling units, weaving factories, silk testing units, and the Government Cocoon Market. These visits provided valuable insights into India’s integration of traditional sericulture practices with modern technology.
The training strengthened participants’ technical skills, equipping them with practical knowledge to enhance sericulture practices at DMMMSU-SRDI.
India is the world’s second-largest silk producer in the world. (By Junalyn C. Dasugo)
