Developing silkworm farming into a key agricultural sector

The silkworm farming industry began to take root in Lao Cai in the 2000s, starting with small experimental models lacking experience and infrastructure. Over the past two decades, from a fragmented and spontaneous state, the silkworm industry has gradually asserted its position through systematic investment, application of technical advances and production organization in the direction of value chain linkage.

Up to now, the whole province has developed about 1,500 hectares of mulberry, mainly concentrated in Tran Yen commune with nearly 700 hectares, the rest is scattered in communes such as Quy Mong, Hung Khanh, Chan Thinh, Lien Son, Mau A, Dong Cuong, Phuc Khanh, Van Ban and Bao Ha. Mulberry trees are grown on a variety of soil types such as riverbank soil (accounting for 60%), rice fields (30.9%), low hills and mixed gardens (4%), showing high adaptability to local soil conditions.

The mulberry fields stretch out endlessly.

Thanks to favorable climate and increasingly accumulated production experience, mulberry productivity and silkworm cocoon output have increased sharply year by year. In the first 6 months of 2025, the province's mulberry leaf output reached 26,300 tons, and the whole year is estimated at about 33,000 tons.

Along with that, the silkworm cocoon output reached 920 tons in the first half of the year, and is expected to reach about 2,070 tons for the whole year. The price of cocoons ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 VND/kg depending on quality and time, bringing a total income of more than 400 billion VND/year to the people. Each silkworm batch only lasts about 10-15 days, helping people quickly rotate production, have a steady and stable income. With 1,710 households participating in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, the silkworm industry is becoming a sustainable livelihood in many rural areas of Lao Cai .

The story of Ms. Ngo Thi Dien in Coc Khieng village, Phuc Khanh commune is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of this model. Starting to raise silkworms in 2018, she now owns more than 2 hectares of mulberry and maintains 10 silkworm cycles every year. Each cycle is divided into two batches, the cocoon yield reaches about 400 kg, bringing a stable income of over 100 million VND/year.

“It only takes 10 to 15 days for me to have income. Currently, the price of silkworm cocoons fluctuates at 160,000 - 170,000 VND/kg, one silkworm round yields 18 to 20 kg. Raising silkworms is much more profitable than growing corn or rice,” Ms. Dien shared.

Mulberry growers in Bao Ha commune are instructed in mulberry growing and silkworm raising techniques.

Not only producing raw materials, Lao Cai also focuses on building a closed chain of links. In the province, 19 cooperatives and 133 cooperative groups for growing mulberry and raising silkworms have been established, acting as a bridge between people, businesses and consumer markets.

Since 2022, Yen Bai Silk Joint Stock Company has invested in building an automatic silk reeling factory in Lang Qua village, Tran Yen commune with an area of ​​25,000 m², a capacity of 150 tons of silk products/year, equivalent to purchasing about 1,200 tons of cocoons per year. The factory has signed a contract to link and consume all cocoon products in the province through cooperatives and cooperative groups, contributing to stabilizing output and increasing the value of the product chain.

In order to ensure quality and increase productivity in the future, the province also focuses on promoting technology transfer, researching new varieties and organizing training for the industry's workforce.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha - Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services Center said: In the coming time, specialized agencies and localities will closely coordinate with the Central Sericulture Research Center and enterprises to deploy in-depth training for technical staff at the commune level, organize training courses for farmers. Along with that, continue to supplement new mulberry varieties with high productivity, suitable for the local climate; convert farming methods to a closed-loop model, thoroughly use by-products in mulberry cultivation and silkworm breeding, increase income value for people and improve economic efficiency.

In addition to technical solutions, Lao Cai also focuses on building a model of 4-house and 5-house linkages (including the State, scientists, businesses, farmers and banks) to sustainably develop the sericulture industry. The consolidation of the operational efficiency of existing cooperatives and cooperative groups, and the establishment of new units, are being promoted to play an intermediary role in organizing production and linking product consumption. The province is also studying the possibility of integrating the development of sericulture with rural tourism, eco-tourism and experiential tourism models - thereby creating more added value and attracting tourists to traditional craft villages.

By the end of 2025, Lao Cai province strives to expand the mulberry growing area to 2,000 hectares, with a silkworm cocoon output of about 2,100 tons. Key localities will continue to receive investment and development, such as Cat Thinh, Van Chan, Thuong Bang La, Nghia Tam, Tran Yen, Quy Mong, Dong Cuong, Mau A, Phuc Khanh, Van Ban and Au Lau ward. In the period of 2026 - 2030, the further goal is to increase the total mulberry growing area of ​​the whole province to 2,500 hectares, develop deep processing facilities for export, and create a complete value chain for the silkworm industry.

From a land of difficult new professions, Lao Cai is now rising to become one of the localities with a strongly developing sericulture industry in the Northern mountainous region. Each silk thread not only contributes to the appearance of the agricultural economy, but also opens up new opportunities, adding hope for a sustainable direction in agricultural and rural development.

Presented by: Bich Hue

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/phat-trien-nuoi-tam-to-thanh-nganh-nong-nghiep-chu-luc-post881422.html