Natural dye products, silk yarn and silks.In 1995, the only yarn production zone that remained was in Phnom Srok District (northwest of Siem Reap - the area you are willing to visit). It include around 250 women grower, many of whom increased the value of their yarn by weaving. However, the total production of raw silk did not exceed 800kg per year.
The sericulture focal point was confined to ren or so villages spread over a few square kilometres, with mulberry plantations not exceeding 15 hectares. Marketing channels were limited to sales "between neighbors" and the activity of a few small-scale merchants whose purchases sporadically supplied weavers in the zone or, more rarely, a few customers from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.
The quantity of yarn produce were very limited but these remnants of activity were sufficient to preserve the knowledge and skills. While not famous for high productivity, a good quality handcrafted yarn was consistently produced.
By late 2005, over 1,600 new women breeders have planted mulberry plantations, have been trained in cericulture and now have forms, bringing the total number of silkworm breeders/producers to approximately 1,900. With an average individual production of 8 to 9 kg of yarn per year, the annual potential yield is now estimated at 12 to 15 tons of raw silk.
From the initial cradle of producers that remained in Phnom Srok, the activity now extends to Thar Puok district (Bantey Meanchey), as well as to Chongkal and Samrong districts (Oddor Meancey). Over one hundred villages are now producing silk.
The project has worked with operators based in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and has linked with weavers in Takeo, in order to develop the use of this small industry golden silk, whose special features are able to render silk items sought after by the tourist and export markets. The silk products are gradually organizing into groups, aware of the expectations of their customers and capable of delivering monthly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.
(To be continue...)
The sericulture focal point was confined to ren or so villages spread over a few square kilometres, with mulberry plantations not exceeding 15 hectares. Marketing channels were limited to sales "between neighbors" and the activity of a few small-scale merchants whose purchases sporadically supplied weavers in the zone or, more rarely, a few customers from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.
The quantity of yarn produce were very limited but these remnants of activity were sufficient to preserve the knowledge and skills. While not famous for high productivity, a good quality handcrafted yarn was consistently produced.
By late 2005, over 1,600 new women breeders have planted mulberry plantations, have been trained in cericulture and now have forms, bringing the total number of silkworm breeders/producers to approximately 1,900. With an average individual production of 8 to 9 kg of yarn per year, the annual potential yield is now estimated at 12 to 15 tons of raw silk.
From the initial cradle of producers that remained in Phnom Srok, the activity now extends to Thar Puok district (Bantey Meanchey), as well as to Chongkal and Samrong districts (Oddor Meancey). Over one hundred villages are now producing silk.
The project has worked with operators based in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and has linked with weavers in Takeo, in order to develop the use of this small industry golden silk, whose special features are able to render silk items sought after by the tourist and export markets. The silk products are gradually organizing into groups, aware of the expectations of their customers and capable of delivering monthly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.
(To be continue...)
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