We’ve had another enquiry about silk-making in Kenya, which is one of our most commented-on stories, so I was prompted to go and look for more information. I hadn’t really taken in before that the reason the projects promote bees and silkworms together is that (some?) African silk moths eat the leaves of Acacias, whose flowers are a source of nectar for bees. Win-win.
Anyway, back to the search for further information. There really isn’t that much. Luigi had already pointed to UNDP’s project, which doesn’t look as if it has changed much since then. New Agriculturalist had an article on sericulture a little more than a year ago, Kambogo Women’s Group is raising silkworms and feeding them on mulberry leaves, somewhat different from the wild silkworms feeding on acacia that are the focus of UNDP and IFAD efforts in Mwingi District. I also turned up some rough TV news footage here; it is unedited and pretty blurry, but it gives a rough idea of some of the things being done.
IFAD’s funding seems to have ended in 2004. People in Kenya clearly want to know more. So why isn’t more information available? And just what is the current state of the silk business in Kenya?
One of our readers must know more. Share, please.
ICIPE is the organisation in Kenya that has been much involved in African silk. Dr Suresh Raina heads up the department African Science for food and health including silkworms and bees. He is actually in Rome this week at Agribusiness Forum 2008 and will make a presentation tomorrow. So I will be interested to hear an update. We have covered silk in New Agriculturist several times – the latest last year.
Ah, the joys of the internet.
Naturally we had no idea that Dr Raina was in Rome! Maybe before you write up his presentation for New Agriculturist you could drop a note here? Even better, if you get the opportunity, ask him if he would like to write a guest post for us or point us to the latest information that people in Kenya can use.